Hot flashes are one of the most common and disruptive symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. While often dismissed as a normal part of aging, the reality is that they can interfere with sleep, concentration, and everyday life.
For some women, hot flashes are occasional and manageable. For others, they feel like an unpredictable surge of heat and anxiety that makes simple moments and daily activities unbearable.
Serving patients in Coral Springs, Florida, the OB-GYN practice of Alan B. Patterson, MD, offers personalized, attentive care for women navigating menopausal symptoms. Here, we explore the ins and outs of hot flashes, including how we can help you handle them.
Hormonal fluctuations that occur as the ovaries wind down their estrogen production are what drive menopause-related hot flashes. How? Estrogen influences the brain’s thermoregulation system, and when levels decrease, your internal thermostat becomes hypersensitive to small temperature changes.
This triggers the body to rapidly cool itself down, leading to the sudden rush of heat, sweating, and skin flushing.
Night sweats are the nighttime version of hot flashes and are a major cause of disrupted sleep for many middle-aged women. These symptoms can begin in perimenopause and, in some cases, last well into the postmenopausal years. Common triggers include:
Knowing your triggers can help you anticipate and sometimes avoid hot flash episodes, but treatment often requires more than environmental changes.
Estrogen plays a crucial role not only in reproductive health, but also in regulating blood sugar and insulin sensitivity. During your prime reproductive years, estrogen helps maintain stable glucose metabolism by improving how your body responds to insulin.
As estrogen levels begin to decline during perimenopause and menopause, this regulation becomes less efficient, leading to greater blood sugar fluctuations and increased insulin resistance.
These shifts can contribute to the onset and severity of hot flashes. Research suggests that women with higher levels of insulin resistance are more likely to experience frequent and intense hot flashes.
For example, findings from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) have shown a link between hot flashes and impaired glucose metabolism, particularly in midlife women.
One study found that hot flashes were more likely when blood glucose levels dropped near 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl), suggesting a threshold below which such symptoms could be triggered.
Controlling blood sugar levels can help reduce hot flash severity in some women. Eating regular, balanced meals that include fiber, protein, and healthy fats can help prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes.
Dr. Patterson and our team offer several treatment paths based on what’s best for you.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) remains the most effective treatment for menopause symptoms, including hot flashes. Dr. Patterson thoroughly evaluates each patient to ensure that hormone therapy is safe, appropriate, and aligned with your goals.
Other medications, the most popular non hormone medication is, paroxetine which is effective for many women, other medications not used as much to treat hot flashes including low-dose antidepressants, gabapentin, and clonidine, can be effective in reducing menopause symptoms in women who can’t take hormones, or prefer not to take them.
Herbal Therapy,
There are some herbs that can lower the severity or in some cases stop the hot flashes, such a soy, and black cohosh, Dr Patterson recommends one from the company ShiftMD, called Tempo that has the herb geniVida that works very well for mild hot flashes and can be used in combination with hormones and other medications to treat more severe hot flashes and night sweats. Many patients want to try herbal therapy first.
Lifestyle modifications are often part of the care plan as well. We may recommend:
Dr. Patterson and our team take the time to explore every option with you.
Menopause doesn’t have to mean discomfort and disruption. With expert guidance, hot flashes can be managed, and your day-to-day life can feel steady again.
If hot flashes are interfering with your sleep, focus, or peace of mind, schedule an appointment with Dr. Patterson in Coral Springs, Florida. We’re here to help you feel balanced, rested, and in control again.
