The natural transition from the normal reproductive stage of a woman that causes a reduction and fluctuation of hormone levels is known as menopause which causes emotional disturbances. Hot flash is one of the several disorders for menopausal women. The attack of hot flash dilates the blood vessels on the upper body and allows more blood to flow. This creates a hot feeling particularly on the neck and faces which may last from seconds up to an hour. The duration and intensity may be mild, moderate or severe. The first line of defense is to identify what triggers hot flash and then avoid it. When it is mild, it is possible to treat it without medication. Lifestyle modification, reducing stress and some dietary changes can take care of the problem. In moderate hot flashes, it is necessary for additional prescription. Vitamins E and B6 and Peridin-e tablets help reduce the effect. An herbal remedy that may help includes ginseng, black cohosh, wild yam root, dong quai, sage tea and prime rose oil. But the effects of herbal remedies in the case of women who have had breast cancer in not know. So care should be taken in such cases.
The new findings, released by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, states that menopausal women who take hormone combinations/ combination hormonal therapy for their symptoms are more likely to get an uncommon type of breast cancer much earlier then experts believed. These treatments that said to raise cancer risk particularly breast cancer are used to combat night sweats, hot flashes, and other symptoms of menopause. Most researchers assumed it takes five years of combined-hormone therapy before the overall risk of developing breast cancer is elevated significantly. Just like hormone therapy, all medications has its risk that’s why it is better to use some natural means in treating this unpleasant condition since it is naturally made the risk is not that high than using medical based treatments.
Black cohosh is the most commonly recommended hot flash remedy. Research has been done concerning the effectiveness and safety of this kind of remedy than on any of the other herbs that can help menopause hot flash symptoms. But if you tried it and it doesn't work for you, then try the other alternatives. It is still uncertain for scientist to determine the reason why black cohosh is such an effective hot flash remedy. Assessments of the chemical compounds of other plants have revealed an estrogen-like substance, appropriately named phytoestrogens and these seem to affect other chemicals in a woman's body.
About 75% of American menopausal women suffer from hot flashes. There other conditions like male hormone restriction therapy for prostate problems, low blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, and low blood sugar, where flashes are known to occur.
The dilation of blood vessels on the upper part of the body, particularly the neck and the face is the immediate cause of the problem. The root cause of the problem, what causes this enlarging of blood vessels, is still unclear. Large fluctuations of female hormones seem to be the prime cause. What triggers hot flashes are hot spicy foods, caffeine, hot weather, alcohol and stress.
The attack may end in a few seconds could last as long as an hour. There is also a wide variation in the severity of the attack. Some can sense the attack of hot flash while it is very sudden for others. Feeling of heat on the upper part of the body particularly on the neck and face in the first and most common symptoms of hot flash. At the same time, the body core temperature drops as much three degrees.
A woman's body changes throughout her lifetime and these are due to the changes on the amount of hormones that happens at different stages in life. Menopausal transition or commonly known as perimenopause is the stage when a woman's body is close to menopause. Perimenopause usually begins about 2 to 4 years before the last menstrual period. It usually lasts for about 11 years after a woman's last period. At this stage, a woman’s period may become less regular. Symptoms like hot flash and night sweats may also begin at this stage.
Postmenopause on the other hand follows menopause and lasts the rest of a woman's life. Pregnancy is no longer possible. There may be some symptoms such as vaginal dryness which may continue long after she has passed through menopause and every menopause symptoms.
Menopause is marked by a woman's last menstrual period. She cannot know for sure what is her last period until she has been free from period for 1 full year.
Sudden intense, hot feeling on face and upper body, nausea, anxiety, headache, sudden feeling of suffocation. If you have one these then there’s no mistake that you are experiencing hot flashes. The common cause of hot flashes are the hormonal changes of menopause. Your lifestyle and other medications may also affect you.
Alcohol, hot foods, hot beds, hot rooms, hot weather, hot shower, caffeine, diet pills, spicy foods, and smoking are only some factors that could trigger hot flash.
A study showed that 7 more women for every 10,000 who undergo estrogen replacement had heart attacks than those women in a group that did not go through estrogen replacement. And because of this side effect that could lead into more serious complications, many women are now cautious to such treatment for hot flashes and other menopausal symptom. This is also the reason why they choose the use of herbal medication to ease struggling against hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms, because it is made from all natural ingredients.
According to Dr. Donohue, estrogen is the most effective remedy for hot flashes. Since the publication of a large study on estrogen’s effects in menopausal women, patients and doctors have been reluctant to use it. The study showed that for every 10,000 women on estrogen replacement, seven more women in the estrogen-treatment group had heart attacks than did the women in the group not taking it. Due to some side effects that lead into more serious complications many women are now hesitant to use such treatment for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms that is why women chooses to use a herbal remedy to combat this condition for its has no harsh chemical content hence it is made from all natural ingredients.
Read More: Non-Estrogen Alternatives For Menopause Symptoms