The Basics of Menopause Hot Flashes

There are many symptoms to menopause, but menopause hot flashes are probably the most well known. During menopause, the body is producing less progesterone and less estrogen. This results in the body getting mixed signals about its internal temperature, causing the brain to become confused. This, in turn, results in the blood vessels swelling and contracting unpredictably. When this happens, hot flashes and cold sweats are the results.

Menopause hot flashes can be heightened as a result of the increased blood flow within the body that comes from the changing hormones. Because of this, some women experience a plethora of associated symptoms. Headaches, weakness, dizziness, sweats and general exhaustion are all related to menopause and hot flashes.

Some women "flush" when they experience hot flashes. Flush is described as a reddish tone of the skin, which occurs because of the blood flow. Along with flushing, women also experience an increased heart rate and blood flow near the skin level. This results in the body's temperature rising and falling by a number of degrees, causing very sudden and often frightening changes in the body's core temperature. This is the body's way of correcting its own imbalance and a "chill" is often felt after a hot flash because of the rapid change in temperature.

Hot flashes are typically more common during hot weather, as the temperatures that naturally occur are augmented by the body's internal temperature. Most menopause hot flashes last around two or three minutes, but some can last up to half an hour or more. Most menopause symptoms are more constant feelings and can be easier to predict, but menopause hot flashes come very suddenly and can leave just as soon.

Hot flashes are menopause symptoms that almost all menopause sufferers experience. Some say that the body's increased temperature during hot flashes actually kills off harmful cells and bacteria in the body, but there is no medical finding to support those assertions. Instead, it appears that hot flashes are merely nature's way of dealing with the change in hormones that come with menopause.

Menopause hot flashes occur all over the world in women from all walks of life. There is no known variable that makes some women experience more severe hot flashes than others. All women do experience hot flashes, however, and this creates a sort of common ground and can enable the exchange of more information about menopause to help women cope.