Known as menopausal hot flushes as a common symptom during the transition period between childbearing age and the natural menopause, these sudden hormonal hot flushes can range from an occasional nuisance to something quite annoying and present several times a day for years.
We are going to see what menopausal hot flushes are like, how long they can last and how you should act if you suffer from them, whether they go away with remedies or if you need medication. In the latter case, remember that in our El Campanario centre (in Calahonda, Mijas) we also have a gynaecology team that can help you to make your transition to the menopause less uncomfortable.
¿What are menopausal hot flushes like??
When you experience a moderate or severe hot flush, you'll know it without hesitation. In case yours are mild or you're just curious, here's a list of how menopausal hot flushes usually present for most women. You may not have all the symptoms, or you may have hot flushes of varying intensity and symptomatology throughout your menopausal transition.
- Sudden sensation of heatwhich results in a reddening of the face, neck and chest.
- Sometimes, at the same time as the heat comes up, you experience anxiety.
- You may also suffer palpitations while the hot flush lasts.
- A less noticeable symptom is the vaginal drynessThe symptoms of the sudden hot flushing episode become more pronounced and can even be a cause of discomfort.
¿How long do menopausal hot flushes last??
As is often the case with hormonal changes and the menstrual cycle, not all women experience hot flushes of the same intensity (some do not even experience them), nor do they have a defined duration.
The average value we obtain from population studies in countries such as Spain is between 1 and 3 years. However, some women suffer for 10 or even 12 years.
The cycles and the way your mother and maternal grandmother went from ovulation to menopause may give you a clue as to what your case might be. This is not a 100 per cent reliable % and we now have the advantage of hormone replacement therapy for those who need it.
What can you do if you suffer from menopause-related hot flushes??
If you suffer from severe or very recurrent hot flushes and you think about the need to endure them for years, it is normal to wonder what to take for menopausal hot flushes. The truth is that only your gynaecologist, after monitoring your oestrogen levels and taking into account your medical history, has enough information to decide whether you should take something or not.
It is usual to first try a range of remedies for menopausal hot flushes that do not involve drugs, moving on to tests and routine monitoring when these remedies do not work.
However, it never hurts to make an appointment with a gynaecologist as soon as the first menstrual irregularities start, whether your menopause seems complicated or you don't even notice it. If you are in Mijas or in the surrounding area and you want to avoid waiting, you can make an appointment at the El Campanario Clinic.
Let's take a look at these simple remedies for menopausal hot flushes and why they often work.
Dress in several layers of clothing
When we are facing a change of season and the weather can change suddenly, we tend to dress in several layers of clothing, in order to shed the outermost layers in case we feel hot. This same trick works to control menopausal hot flushes, because, even though we are suffering from a hot flush, the body maintains its thermal regulation mechanism.
Make a habit of carrying fresh water with you
At the first signs, drinking a few sips of fresh water also helps. You can carry it with you, for example, in a thermos flask, when you know you will not be able to drink fresh water immediately due to your schedule or location.
Discover and avoid your triggers
There are many factors that favour the appearance of hot flushes. Some of them, such as tobacco, tobacco products spicy foods and alcohol consumption affect almost all women, while others, such as stress or moderate caffeine consumption, depend on the individual patient.
Of course, to have an adequate weight or leading a reasonably active life helps to keep hot flushes under control.
Track your hot flushesBoth types of information will be very helpful if you have more than just a mild hot flash. Both types of information will be very helpful if you are more than a little overheated.
Choose comfortable clothing
This trick is common sense, but it never hurts to remember it. Imagine that suddenly, in addition to the heat, you start to sweat.
If your clothing is not only roomy, especially in the warmer months, convection currents in the air can help you to dissipate sweat better and thus cool down faster.
Menopausal hot flushes are common, although their intensity varies greatly from patient to patient, as do the years during which they tend to occur. Not all women need hormone treatment and not all are suitable candidates, so the first thing to do when irregular menstrual cycles or hot flushes appear is to ask for appointment with a gynaecologist and apply a series of conservative remedies, while you receive the results of the tests and the doctor takes your medical history into account.