You look like you are melting and it feels like there’s nothing you can do about it except fan yourself.
They can start with an overall warming or feeling flushed in the stomach or chest that radiates up. They usually last 30 seconds to several minutes at a time. Some women experience extreme sweating in the chest, neck and head. When the flash is over, many women feel chilled. It is very common for hot flashes to happen at night, which can interfere with sleeping because the woman is constantly throwing the covers on and off. I have had many patients say that they freeze their significant other out at night because they like it cool.
Hot flashes can be a little embarrassing at times, especially if you are presenting at work or out with family or friends when a flash hits you. You look like you are melting and it feels like there’s nothing you can do about it except fan yourself. Embarrassing.
Night sweats are different. Men and women can have night sweats. It can be as minimal as waking up sweaty in the chest and behind the neck to waking up fully drenched. Night sweats in Chinese medicine are considered Yin/fluid deficiency and can easily be remedied. Common causes of night sweats are reactions to certain medications (antidepressants, opioids, excess thyroid meds, etc.). Other causes may be an increase in alcohol intake, stress, hormone imbalances, infections or cancer. If night sweats continue consistently on a nightly basis, it is important to see your physician for basic blood work and a physical exam.
What can you do about it?
Traditional Treatments
Synthetic estrogen is often given to women experiencing hot flashes. It comes in a patch, pill or cream. There are risks involved with taking synthetic estrogens (like Premarin): studies have shown an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, blood clots and stroke. The risk increases with a combination of synthetic progestin (not micronized progesterone).
Research has shown that some antidepressants like Paxil, Prozac, or Effexor may reduce hot flashes as well as improve mood. Other medications like gabapentin given at night may also offer some relief. If you don’t have trouble sleeping or mood issues, the side effects of these drugs should be considered before trying.
Natural Treatments
Diet and Lifestyle Changes Eating more of a whole foods or pescatarian diet while reducing alcohol intake, increasing water consumption and regular exercise has been shown to decrease hot flashes and night sweats. One study showed doing high intensity interval training three times per week for 15 weeks decreased sweats.
Mindset, Stress Management Meditation, yoga, Qigong, mindfulness practices and stress management skills also can help decrease flash severity and intensity. There are some great mediation apps out there for beginners and regular meditators. Meditating five to 30 minutes a day will help you to feel more focused and better able to adapt to the daily stresses.
Acupuncture has also been very effective in eliminating hot flashes and night sweats by treating the Yin imbalance in the body. Regular acupuncture treatments can help minimize hormone imbalance associated with perimenopause and menopause. It reduces the heat, calming the internal fire in the body and focuses on balancing the adrenals and kidney energy, reducing hot flash intensity and frequency.
Herbal/Vitamins Some herbal treatments that may reduce hot flashes are Hops, Vitex, Dong Quai, Black cohosh Rehmannia, and some Chinese herbal blends to calm the internal fire down. Vitamin E 800iu daily can help decrease hot flashes in some women.
Get Your Hormones Checked It is normal for hormones to decline in both men and women as we age. The decline can affect female and male hormones, increasing unwanted symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, fatigue, weight challengatability, anxiety, depression and decreased muscle tone and stamina. When the aging hormones decline, there is an increased risk in the age-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia and osteoporosis. Bio-identical hormone replacement may be the best thing to help reduce the aging related symptoms and help you to feel more like your old self. Most randomized studies show that they do not carry the same risks as the synthetics do and offer more protection/benefit on multiple body systems. All it takes is a simple blood test by a hormone specialist to see where your baseline hormones are. Hormone optimization of the thyroid, female/male hormones and vitamin D can result in a better mood, better libido, better energy and sleep quality. It is worth feeling your best for the rest of your life!
Know that you don’t have to suffer through it and natural medicine offers many solutions to correcting the root cause of the imbalance naturally with herbs, nutrition, acupuncture and bio-identical hormones if you so choose. FBN
By Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc
Dr. Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc, The Vitality Doctor, is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in hormone optimization, optimal health and vitality. She is a new Flagstaff resident, practicing since 2004, and opened her second location in Doney Park in 2020. For more information, visit thevitalitydoctor.com or call 928-863-6086.