A hot flash typically comes on suddenly, giving little warning. It can begin as a slightly prickly, uncomfortable feeling. Something doesn’t feel right, but you’re not sure what. By the time it reaches its peak, you know exactly what it is because you are burning hot and can’t get any relief. You feel the heat most in your chest and face. As the hot flash begins to diminish, you might feel drained, slightly nauseated, or a little dizzy–in addition to being sweaty and flushed. You might get chills.
Does this sound familiar? Hot flashes usually last only a few minutes, but they can cause a lot of discomfort. They are the most common side effect of menopause, caused by the naturally decreasing levels of hormones as women age.
Hot Flashes by the Numbers
Schedule Your Free Consultation
- Over 75% of women experience hot flashes as they go through menopause.
- Most women who have hot flashes have them for more than a year. Hot flashes usually subside within four or five years, but for 40% of women, they continue for seven years or more.
- For 25-30% of women, hot flashes are so severe that they impact work productivity and quality of life.
- Hot flashes can occur as infrequently as once a month or as often as 20 to 30 times a day.
Hot flashes can vary in severity, frequency, and duration from woman to woman, but all hot flashes have something in common: they are unpleasant, sometimes almost unbearable. Because they occur without warning and can happen at any time, they can disrupt all facets of a woman’s life, including professional, social, and home life. Hot flashes experienced during the night–also called night sweats–can interrupt sleep, which in turn has an additional negative effect on a woman’s energy, disposition, and health.
If you have started experiencing hot flashes, you may be concerned. After all, no one wants to endure hot flashes for years. Don’t worry; treating this unfortunate side effect of aging has become much easier with the advent of bioidentical hormones. In fact, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can successfully end hot flashes.
What Are Bioidentical Hormones?
Bioidentical hormones are hormones that are identical in molecular structure to the hormones women make in their bodies. As your estrogen levels naturally drop, you can supplement the hormones your body produces with bioidentical replacements, and your body won’t be able to tell the difference. This has other beneficial effects besides treating hot flashes. Many women taking bioidentical hormones report easier weight loss, more vibrant skin and hair, and even better sex.