Hot Flash Remedies
That time of your life has finally arrived, you know, the one your mom and grandmother told you about: The Big Change. But their stories were nothing compared to the real experience of entering menopause, and one of the major symptoms that most women would admit they can go without is the hot flash. These sudden warming sensations that cover the face, neck and chest can leave you sweating like you’re in a sauna or chilled like an April ocean. For years women have sought hot flash remedies, and while there’s never a cure for a biological event, there are ways to alleviate these irksome irritants.
A hot flash may hit the menopause sufferer many times a day or just a few times a week. They are a direct result of the loss of estrogen from the body (after all, menopause is the time of life when estrogen production stops), and there are some common sense remedies and treatments for managing hot flashes. The first thing you’ll want to take note of: When are the hot flashes occurring? If directly after eating, determine what you ate last. Spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol can ignite hot flashes. Keeping the body cool is another way to combat these flush feelings. Even small increases in body temperature can set off a hot flash. Using a fan or air conditioning, and even sipping on a cool drink can nip an attack in the bud.
Other hot flash remedies include cutting out tobacco use (smoking has been linked to an increase in hot flashes) and relaxation techniques. Alternative medicines and dietary supplements have shown some success in limiting the effects of hot flashes. Women in Asian countries are less-likely to report hot flashes than women anywhere else in the world. Coincidentally, estrogen-like amalgams are found in soy, and soy is a regular diet staple in the Far East. Unfortunately, taking soy products does not automatically quell a hot flash.
Finally, talk to your doctor when trying to figure out hot flash remedies that will work best for you. He may often prescribe antidepressants or have you undergo hormone replacement therapy.
