Hot flashes are feelings of warmth felt on the face and neck area. The skin becomes reddish and your face looks very much like blushing. It is accompanied by intense sweating which may cause “chilled’ feeling in you. Hot flashes are quite common in women who are in menopause stage. They may occur once or many times a day and sometimes it can also happen during night. Basically it is caused by hormonal changes.
Symptoms Of Hot Flashes
The affected person will be engulfed with a sudden feeling of warmth. The warmth is felt largely on the face and neck and upper part of the body. Your face becomes reddened as though you are blushing. For some it can cause blotchy skin and profuse sweating. There may be palpitation and feeling of chillness when the hot flashes subside. Normally it would occur only for few minutes. It can be ignored if it does not interrupt your daily life.
Causes :
Hormonal imbalance is the main cause for hot flash. It can also occur when the functions of hypothalamus is affected. This is the area in the brain which is responsible for regulating the body temperature and some hormones may block its function which may trigger hot flashes. Estrogen is the main hormone which is totally reduced or withdrawn during menopause thus interfering with the functions of hypothalamus causing hot flashes. Hot flashes may also occur due to excess secretion of thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism). Estrogen when secreted in low levels will not affect the normal functioning of the brain as seen in children and teenage females.
Who Are At Risk?
Smoking and physical inactivity may increase hot flashes in women. It is not mandatory that all women who are in menopause stage will experience hot flashes. Similarly women who are overweight are likely to get hot flashes frequently. It is very popular in certain ethnic community like African American race and less frequent in Chinese and Japanese women.