Research reveals that over sixty percent of the US women in their years of menopause experience hot flashes. This particular symptom of menopause is evident in the form of a sudden gush of heat sweeping the upper parts of the body. Consequently, the face, neck and chest regions show the presence of red patches making the individual appear totally ‘flushed’.

The redness of the skin is accompanied by intense perspiration followed by shivering owing to the body’s natural mechanism of adjusting to the excessive heat. There is no specific duration of a hot flash. The time that a hot flash lasts for could range from a few seconds to 30 minutes.

Hot flashes are generally experienced by women in the years leading to menopause. The symptom usually ceases to appear after there have been no periods for a minimum of one year. Therefore, it is estimated that in totality a woman experiences hot flashes for an approximate time period of 2 to 5 years. However, there have been cases wherein women have reported experiencing the symptom of about 7 years as well. Hot flashes can occur during any time of the day and night. When occurring at night, they end up causing sleep disturbance along with other forms of discomfort.

Many menopausal women have observed an increase in the incidence of hot flashes on the consumption of caffeine, alcohol, hot drinks, spicy foods, and during traumatic or worrisome circumstances. This makes it important to avoid these triggers in order to escape this misery.

The real cause of hot flashes is not known with clarity. However, hormonal imbalance in the body caused by decreased levels of estrogen is most likely the reason for their occurrence. Conventional form of treatment involves administration of hormone replacement therapy, which is not recommended for everyone as it is believed to cause several side effects such as strokes, blood clots and even cancer.

Intake of Vitamin E is reported to have benefited some women but there is no medical proof authenticating this nutrient as a valid remedy towards hot flashes. Some of the natural ways of obtaining relief from hot flashes is to wear loose fitting and light clothes preferable made of cotton, dressing up in layers so that in event of a hot flash the additional clothing can be removed, using cotton bed sheets and lingerie, keeping your sleeping room cool, keeping ice water or an ice pack next to your bed at night, drinking cold water or juice the moment you sense its occurrence and avoiding the consumption of triggering agents of a hot flash that include caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and spicy foods.

Some of the other measures that an prove beneficial include practicing slow breathing for a period of 15 minutes in the mornings and evenings and following a regular exercise regime that could involve walking, swimming, dancing, or bicycling.

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