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What Is a Hot Flash and How the Hell Do I Get Rid of It?

3 min read

Pause Well-Aging | What is a hot flash?

Rochelle Weitzner | September 24, 2019

As a female you may revel in your feminine power to bring new life into the world, or you might bemoan the hassles of the monthly curse.  Most of us have gone through a wide range of emotions between these two extremes. However, when menopause sets in, you’ll have a whole new set of challenges and adventures ahead.

Even though we all know it’s coming, menopause can still be difficult to cope with.  What does it mean to be a woman when you’re no longer menstruating? How will your body change and how can you adapt?  How will you embrace the next phase of your life and redefine what it means to be you? 

You’ll first have to deal with the side effects of this biological transformation, including hot flashes.  You’re likely to have many questions, like “Where do hot flashes come from?” and “How do I get rid of hot flashes?”  If you want to know what hot flashes are and, more importantly, the best way to soothe a hot flash, read on.

What are Hot Flashes?

Menopause infers a certain level of freedom, but like all freedoms, it comes at a cost, and the most common symptom of this transformation is hot flashes.  About 75% of women will experience hot flashes during menopause, and while the cause isn’t entirely clear, it is likely linked to hormonal fluctuations and related changes in circulation.

Hot flashes occur when the heart rate increases, causing the body to overheat and often, to become flushed. Superficial blood vessels (near the surface of the skin) widen to cool the body, causing you to break out in a sweat. Some women experience night sweats, or hot flashes that wake them from a dead sleep. 

Hot Flash Remedies

There is no way to prevent hot flashes or other symptoms of menopause, but you may have heard that hormonal replacement therapy can help with the symptoms. You’ll have to speak with your doctor about this and other prescription treatment regimens.

In the meantime, you can try out a variety of remedies, from adding vitamin B and E supplements to your diet, to starting a new exercise regimen, to adding a cooling pillow to your bedding. You could even look into Buteyko or yogic breathing practices specifically designed to alleviate hot flashes.

We’re partial to our Cooling Mist that provides instant relief from the discomfort of hot flashes by creating the sensation of lowering your body’s surface temperature, cooling and calming skin, reducing redness and evaporating sweat. The cooling sensation lasts for up to an hour and it can be reapplied throughout the day as needed.  The mist won’t disrupt make-up, nor will it stain clothing.  Additionally, the Cooling Mist contains our proprietary Pause Complex, so it helps support collagen production to lift, firm, and tone skin, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

You should also avoid common triggers that can prompt or exacerbate symptoms, such as: 

  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • Heat
  • Spicy foods
  • Stress
  • Tight clothing
  • Tobacco products

How Long Does the Hot-Flash Stage Last?

Next you probably want to know how long hot flashes last.  It has long been held that for as much as 80% of the female population, the duration of hot flashes averages out to two years or less.  Newer studies show that this isn’t necessarily the case, and that the average is actually about seven years, with some cases lasting as long as eleven or even forever.  Some lucky ladies never experience hot flashes, but sadly, they’re in the minority.

Keep Moving

Menopause is neither a blessing nor a curse.  It’s just another part of life, and it needn’t slow you down.  Generations of women before you found ways to push through and continue living meaningful and fulfilling lives long after menopause, and today there are more resources than ever available to help you face this life change with beauty, grace, power, and confidence.

If you’re a modern woman seeking evolved solutions to the side effects of menopause, join the PAUSE movement to connect with a community and resources dedicated to women like you, women who move. 

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Sources:

Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library

WebMD

Harvard Health Blog

Dr. Artour Rakhimov

BottomLineInc

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