Free Articles on Women Issues and many other topics
Another free Women Issues article for you by Jay George
Titled: Menopausal Hot Flashes: What they Are and How To Cope With Them
Menopausal Hot Flashes: What they Are and How To Cope With Them
Article Summary: The Causes of Hot Flashes during Menopause
While every woman will experience the menopause sooner or later, more than 75% suffer hot flashes as part of their cycle.
These are typically described as a feeling of hot flushing throughout the body and can make a woman out on a moderately hot day feel as though she's swathed in tropical heat.
Even if everyone around her feels cold, she may feel like flinging wide all the windows and switching on the air conditioning. However, a mere moment later she may be, by contrast, shivering and cold, similar to the symptoms of a fever.
Nor do these hot flashes affect only the woman with menopause suffering them; they affect those close to them also, in particular male partners. It is common for these men to claim that their women are so warm beside them in bed that they require far fewer blankets as a result.
Sometimes the least of suffering hot flashes is the overpowering sensation of heat. Many women also experience dizziness, while others get heart palpitations alongside the hot flashes. Some also report feeling that their skin is crawling, while others even feel faint during the course of a hot flash. Fortunately this does not apply across the board though, as some women merely feel hot for a brief spell before the symptoms vanish totally, leaving them feeling OK.
Others, however, consider hot flashes a cause of exterme inconvenience and embarrassment, as some can last for ten minutes or even longer.
The cause of hot flashes is bodily motor instability. Research points to bodily temperature being under the control of the hypothalamus, which is found in the brain. This feature of the brain suffers serious hormonal fluctuations as a result of menopause, making the body unable to react with its usual responses.
Although these fluctuations are the prime cause of hot flashes, they can be made worse by factors like stress and bad eating habits. In addition, in areas which suffer higher pollution, in particular xeno-estrogens or synthetic estrogens, women have a higher rate of hot flashes. There is research to suggest that women in industrialized countries suffer a threefold higher rate of hot flashes than their Third World counterparts.
Other causes of hot flashes include common foods and drinks: in particular alcohol and caffeine, even spicy food. All three can be factors for most women, while others may find hard exercise can bring on an unwanted hot flash. Those unluckier still, will find theirs occurs totally without provocation or warning.
The usual timespan for hot flashes is about 5 years. It has been known for some women to suffer them for as long as one to two decades, though in compensation their severity tends to decrease with time.
Only 3% of women are unfortunate enough to suffer hot flashes for more than 15 years. Heredity is a factor in predicting how badly women will suffer with hot flashes. For example, they seem worse in those who don't sweat, have very limited body fat, or who don't undergo natural menopause.
If you suffer hot flashes that are too intense or frequent, be sure to consult with your physician over methods of controlling the problem. It is important not to suffer this debilitating and inhibiting condition in silence.
Article Source: http://www.upublish.info
About the Author:
Jay George
Jay George is a writer/publisher on health matters. "How To Conquer Menopause" is an e-book guide to coping with the menopause and includes 5 valuable free bonus reports. Stop suffering now and get the info you need to make your change of life so much easier: http://www.HowToConquerMenopause.net
**NOTE** - Jay George has claimed copyright on the article "Menopausal Hot Flashes: What they Are and How To Cope With Them" ... if there is a dispute on the originality of this article ... please contact us via our Contact Form and supply our staff with the appropriate details of dispute.
