Managing Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

Hot flashes are one of the most common and noticeable signs of menopause. More than 80% of women report experiencing them during or after their childbearing years.

Also called vasomotor symptoms, hot flashes involve a sudden feeling of intense heat. They may be followed by sweating, chills, or both, and red blotches can appear on the chest, back, or arms. More severe cases may cause heavy sweating, shivering, and sleep disruption.

• Duration: 30 seconds to 5 minutes (sometimes up to 10+ minutes)

• Frequency: Hourly, daily, or weekly

• Persistence: Average 7 years, but some women experience them for 10+ years

Cold flashes are the opposite, a sudden feeling of chills and shivering.

Night sweats (nocturnal hyperhidrosis) are hot flashes that occur during sleep. They affect up to 75% of women in perimenopause and menopause and are a major cause of insomnia and fatigue.

Even after decades of study, the exact cause of hot flashes isn’t fully understood at this time. Research points to the hypothalamus (the brain’s temperature regulator), which becomes highly sensitive when estrogen levels drop.

• Estrogen - Declines during menopause, making the hypothalamus overreact to small temperature changes. This sets off sweating, flushing, and heat sensations.
   
• Cortisol - Stress hormones may raise body temperature, worsening night sweats.
   
• Other factors - Certain medications, thyroid disorders, and some cancers or treatments may also trigger hot flashes.
   

When estrogen drops, the hypothalamus misreads body temperature and responds to tiny rises in heat by:

• Widening blood vessels (vasodilation) → flushed skin and heat

• Increasing blood flow and heart rate

• Triggering sweating to cool down the body

The result is the familiar cycle of heat, sweating, and chills.

  Hot flashes are usually menopause-related, but seek medical advice if:

• They appear suddenly or unusually severe

• They occur with other concerning symptoms

• Night sweats persist after menopause

 The National Institute on Aging (NIA) offers detailed guides on menopause symptoms. It’s a great place to learn more and complement what you’ve read here.