Sitting at a restaurant chatting away, you suddenly feel a familiar flush start on the skin of your mid chest and creep up to your face. Your friends ask you if you are alright, unable to avoid noticing how flushed your face has become along with the sudden beads of sweat that have appeared on your brow.
Those of us who are peri-menopausal or actually in the midst of menopause are familiar with these flushing episodes that for some women occur up to 30 times a day. Unpredictable interruptions during conversations or sleep at night are regular occurrences for as many as 80% of women during menopause. What causes facial flushing or hot flashes and is there anything that can be done?
Current research believes that menopausal women experience a change in their ability to regulate core body temperature due to a reduction of an adrenaline hormone (norepinephrine) in the brain. This change is what leads to episodes of hot flashes. Some menopausal women develop a narrowed range of temperature tolerance making their bodies overly sensitive to mild elevations of body heat. Eating too spicy of food or wearing too warm of clothes can set off a hot flash and facial flushing.
While loss of estrogen during menopause is a contributor, it is not the cause. Researchers believe this because prepubescent girls who are too young to produce estrogen and menstruate do not have hot flashes. Estrogen is believed to raise the threshold of our body’s response temperature elevation so our bodies do not sweat as easily during these times of heat fluctuations.
Treatments:
Until recently, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was used universally as the first treatment for hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. However, since results of the women’s health study have showed that HRT increases risk of cardiac disease as well as breast cancer, hormone treatments while still given, are used in much lower amounts or for reduced periods of time.
Two non hormone drugs: Neurontin and Clonidine have both been shown in studies to provide relief for hot flashes. Other serotonin blocking drugs such as Fluoxetine or Venlafaxine have also shown success in treating hot flashes however, all these drugs have side effects that may not be tolerated.
Not too surprising are therapies related to the research that adrenaline hormones in the brain are responsible for hot flashes and facial flushing. Techniques to calm and reduce stress and adrenal activity can be helpful. Meditation, breathing exercises or biofeedback has been shown in studies to reduce the incidence of hot flashes.
Alternative treatments:
Black cohosh was originally thought to have an estrogen effect reducing menopause symptoms but recent studies shows it may provide help through another mechanism. Soy products and flax seeds have phytoestrogens believed to have estrogen like properties. Some studies have show benefits from these supplements and others have not. You may need to try them for yourself to see if they work for you.
A recent study posted here at Empowher showed that acupuncture helped reduce hot flashes in women who had breast cancer. Twenty-five percent of the women in this study also reported an increase in sexual interest, energy and clearer thinking.
Dressing in layers, are basic activities that may reduce episodes of facial flushing and hot flashes. Avoid triggers such as caffeine or spicy food. Using fans, losing weight and quitting smoking may help reduce the incidence of hot flashes.
Hot flashes may be unavoidable for the majority of women, but there are a variety of options that may diminish the intrusion of menopause on our lives. Hopefully, at least one method will allow us to enjoy an uninterrupted lunch with friends or at least get a better night sleep.
Source:
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/510409_4
http://pharma-db.com/2009/03/menopause-what-does-it-feel-like/
www.alive.com/1508a4a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=810
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele can be read at http://www.helium.com/users/487540/show_articles