How to deal with overheating during menopause (hot flashes) & bull; hello healthy

One of the signs that you are experiencing menopause is hot flashes, aka hot flashes. Maybe it's your first time hearing it, but actually you have often felt it, if you are menopause. Hot flashes are a feeling of heat in the body and this is normal for every woman who is menopausal. This can be annoying at times, but it can actually be solved. How to?

What are hot flashes?

Hot flashes or hot flushes are a feeling of heat that can come on suddenly in women who are menopausal. Usually this feeling of heat occurs on the face, neck, and chest. During hot flashes you may feel your skin warm, sweating (especially in the upper body), flushed face, faster heartbeat, and tingling in your fingers.

The cause of hot flashes is not known with certainty, but it seems to be related to changes in reproductive hormones in the body of women who are menopausal. However, not all menopausal women experience hot flashes. Women who smoke, are obese, and rarely exercise a higher risk of developing hot flashes.

Hot flashes occur when the blood vessels under the skin dilate to help cool the body. The body can also sweat in response to cool the body. This sweat can appear at night and can make it difficult for women to sleep. Too much sweating may make you feel cold.

Hot flashes can occur for a short time during menopause, some can last longer. The length of time hot flashes last can vary between women. However, usually the hot flashes will decrease over time.

Hot flashes can occur because of various things that can trigger them, such as:

Drink alcohol
Consuming caffeinated products
Eating spicy food
Being in a room with high temperature (heat)
Stress or anxiety
Wear tight clothes
Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke

How do you deal with hot flashes?

Various ways can be done to deal with hot flashes. Starting from simple methods that you can do yourself at home, using medicines or herbal products, to therapies that involve hormones. Depending on the severity of your hot flashes, you may be able to try these methods.

Simple way to deal with hot flashes

This method can help reduce the intensity of the heat when hot flashes come on. Some simple ways you can deal with hot flashes, such as:

Keep calm. It's best to keep your room temperature at night, not to make you cold or overheated. Adjust your clothes, preferably wear clothes made of cotton.
Breathe slowly, take a deep breath and exhale (6-8 breaths per minute). Try to do this for 15 minutes every morning and evening, or every time you start feeling hot flashes.
Limit consumption of coffee and tea, and stop drinking alcohol and smoking.
Eat with balanced nutrition, with controlled portions. Eat foods that contain protein (nuts, meat, eggs, yogurt), good fats (especially omega-3 fatty acids, such as olive oil, nuts, salmon, and avocado), and vegetables and fruits that contain phytonutrients (broccoli, kale , cabbage, Brussels sprouts, celery, garlic) can help maintain hormonal balance in the body, thereby reducing hot flashes.
Get regular exercise. It doesn't have to be heavy. Sports such as walking, swimming, dancing, and cycling are all right choices for you.
You can also try using an ice pack. Putting the ice pack on your head at night, this might help. Or, wipe your face with cold water, a warm bath can also help.

Herbal products

This has not been well proven through research, but some women who have tried it report that it can reduce hot flashes. So, it doesn't hurt if you want to try. Some herbal products that are believed to reduce hot flashes include:

Red clover (Trifolium pratense). It is believed to reduce hot flashes, but it also has side effects that can increase the chance of bleeding.
Evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis). It can also help relieve hot flashes, but can also cause side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea. For those of you who take certain medications, such as blood thinners and some psychiatric drugs, you should not take this oil.
Soy. Soybeans are found in substances that have an effect similar to estrogen, so they can help reduce hot flashes. However, soy may cause mild stomach upset, constipation, and diarrhea in some people.

Non-prescription medication

You may be able to take a vitamin B complex supplement or vitamin E supplement, or you can also take a non-prescription medication, such as ibuprofen to help reduce hot flashes. This may help you.

Prescription medication

Unlike non-prescription drugs, prescription drugs must be approved by a doctor. Before taking this drug, you should first consult with your doctor. Do not let this medicine interfere with your other use of your medications or cause your condition to worsen. Some medications can reduce hot flashes, such as:

Low-dose depression medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), or venlafaxine (Effexor).
Clonidine, a blood pressure medication.
Gabapentin, an antiseizure drug. Gabapentin is usually given for nerve-mediated pain, offering treatment for some women.
Brisdelle, a special paroxetine formula to reduce hot flashes.
Duavee, a conjugated estrogen / bazedoxifene formula designed to treat hot flashes.

Hormone replacement therapy

Hormone replacement therapy or HRT is used to treat hot flashes for a short time, less than 5 years. This therapy can prevent hot flashes in many women. This therapy can also relieve other symptoms of menopause, such as vaginal dryness and mood disorders (mood swing). For some menopausal women who experience hot flashes that can affect their quality of life, this therapy may be of great help.

Estrogen supplements can replace lost estrogen, thereby reducing the severity of hot flashes and night sweats. Estrogen taken with progestins (progesterone) can reduce the risk of endometrial cancer.

However, if you stop HRT, the hot flashes can return. HRT in the short term causes several risks, such as blood clots and inflammation of the gallbladder. If HRT is not suitable for you, you can try other treatments. Don't forget to always consult with your doctor.