Symptoms of menopause may be many, among them hot flashes is the most common symptom. Other than this, what happens during menopause? Menopause is a fragile period in a woman’s life. She has lots of physical and mental disturbance which can be partly contributed to the falling estrogen level.
There are certain measures you can take if hot flashes concern you. Hot flushes are a part of hot flashes. It is the redness of the face and neck during hot flashes. It can cause daily life interruptions for some women. Let’s get into a deep study of hot flashes and their management.
HOT FLASHES:
Hot flashes during menopause are very distressing and result in poor life quality. It affects 50-85% of women older than 45 years of age. It affects all ethnic groups. The mean rise of the core body and skin temperature is 0.5°C and 0.25 to 3°C during an attack of a hot flash. There may be chillness, feeling of extreme weakness, palpitation, and anxiety. A low level of estrogen probably triggers episodes of hot flashes.
MANAGEMENT:
Hot flushes are manageable in a variety of ways. Here are a few of them.
MILD HOT FLUSHES:
Here are some management methods you can use for mild hot flushes.
- Lifestyle changes such as keeping the core body temperature cool and doing regular exercises.
- Some nonprescription remedies like soyfoods, isoflavone supplements, black cohosh, and vitamin E are being tried on a short-term basis.
- Some nonhormonal options for hot flushes include antidepressants like venlafaxine, fluoxetine, and paroxetine, anticonvulsants(like gabapentin), and a few antihypertensive agents like clonidine and methyldopa. Further, the side effects of the above options need to be considered.
MODERATE TO SEVERE HOT FLUSHES:
HRT which is either Estrogen alone(ET) or Estrogen-Progestin(EPT) is effective in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flushes. Additionally beware of dangerous side effects like stroke, thromboembolism, breast cancer, etc on long-term use.
Age and whether a woman has undergone a hysterectomy treatment affect the risks differently. It is ideal to make a combined decision in managing this distressing VM (vasomotor) symptom.
TO CONCLUDE:
Menopausal women need to understand the benefits, risks, and options available and the need for regular follow-up. Regardless of the management strategy the women should be periodically reassessed as the VMS will resolve over some time in most women and needs no intervention then.
Consult your doctor about your medical and family history, as well as any concerns or queries you may have about taking hormones before starting treatment for menopause symptoms. Additionally , practice proper perineal hygiene for improved health. Treat your menopause symptoms under a doctor’s guidance to lead a healthy lifestyle.
