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Menopause Hot FlashesMenopause is known as being a time in life where women experience the cessation of their menstrual cycle, a loss of fertility and also for many of the symptoms of menopause, especially hot flashes. Hot flashes can be particularly uncomfortable for many women and many women, who experience this symptom, eagerly seek out menopause relief from hot flashes through Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), natural supplements and lifestyle changes. Hot flashes are a result of a decrease in the production of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones help regulate temperature centers such as the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus utilizes blood flow as a means to help regulate temperature. For instance, if the hypothalamus perceives the body as being cold, it flushes the body with blood. When blood floods the system the result can be a flash of heat. Estrogen from various sources may regulate the reaction and slow down the phenomenon. Women who are having hot flashes sometimes report warnings that they have just before the onset on a hot flash. For example, some women report a headache, disorientation or nausea. When a hot flash hits; the sensation of heat travels across the face chest and then across the body. Some women experience mild to medium heat increases, while others experience a more profound reaction accompanied by excessive perspiration. When women experience hot flashes while they are in bed or ready to sleep, they are having night sweats. Night sweats can make sleeping difficult or downright impossible for the woman suffering from them. Because sleep is so difficult for many menopausal women, fatigue is also a common menopausal symptom. The fatigue brought on by sleepless nights bathed in sweat, can lead to other problems such as impaired memory and sometimes depression. Menopausal often report lack of concentration and irritability as well. Therapies for hot flashes often involve getting a prescription for hormones. In addition some women make dietary changes that include adding foods to their diets that replace lost hormones, such as including soy in their diets. Other women use natural supplements like saw pimento, which is reputed to relieve hot flashes. An estimated 70%-80% of menopausal women report having hot flashes. Frequency of hot flashes varies, as does their severity. Every effort to make healthy lifestyle choices should be made to minimize the uncomfortable realities of hot flashes. Maintaining a healthy weight and an active lifestyle may go a long way to easing the stress and discomfort associated with hot flashes. Keeping appraised on medical research and seeking the guidance of experts can also make menopause a smoother transition.
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