Are you waking up in the middle of the night sweating? Are you hot when everyone else in the room is comfortable? You are likely experiencing one of the most common symptoms of menopause/perimenopause….the dreaded hot flash or medically termed vasomotor symptom. Upwards of 80% of women experience this symptom sometime during menopause.
What is a hot flash and why am I having them? During menopause there is a decline in hormones. This hormonal decline affects all parts of the body including the blood vessels. The hormonal changes cause the blood vessels to dilate, heat is given off and the result is profuse sweating, a flushed face, dizziness, skin color changes and even for some women, embarrassment. You might even have to change your clothes because you are drenched!
You do not have to be plagued with the symptom of hot flashes because there are simple ways to help reduce them. Simple dietary changes can reduce hot flashes. These changes include decreasing spicy foods such as chili peppers. Spicy foods have an ingredient called capsaicin in them which causes the blood vessels to dilate.
Decreasing alcohol can minimize hot flashes since it triggers hot flashes by also causing blood vessels to dilate. Maintaining a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can decrease the hot flash along with minimizing white sugar intake. Excessive amounts of sugar contribute to hot flashes.
For more information regarding hot flashes, follow me on social media at Dr.Bobbi@OBGYN.
