Getting relief from hot flashes

Perimenopause or hot flashes are one of the most discomforting and common problems that many women face at some point in their life. Hot flashes (as they are called) are not physically harmful or life-threatening, but they can cause a lot of discomfort to the sufferers as long as they last.

Hot flashes at night

Hot flashes are common during the night times, though many women suffer from these problems during the day time too. Since they are a natural phenomenon, you cannot avoid them, but there are tips you can follow to reduce their instances, intensity, and impact. With simple solutions, you can get through the menopause more easily.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is known to help reduce and stop the occurrence of hot flashes. Research has shown that vitamin E can help reduce the fibrocystic lumps in the breasts. You can add it to your regular diet through vitamin E rich foods or supplements.

Exercise

One of the problems with hot flashes is the excessive sweating that comes during the flash. One of the better ways to regulate the problem is to exercise regularly. Though you would sweat during exercise too, it is your body’s mechanism to regulate the heat so it can actually help you. Just ensure that you do not exercise less than three hours before sleeping.

Diet

Caffeinated drinks, spicy foods, and cayenne pepper are known to worsen the impact of hot flashes in the body. So avoid them as much as possible. Also, avoid the intake of alcohol as it can also be detrimental during such times.

Herbs

Include black cohosh to your diet. Many women around the world have benefitted from this herb. You can get this product in any regular medical store. However, its effects take around 2 to 3 weeks to show. So do not expect magic immediately after the first dose.

Clothing

Dress in cool clothes. This is very important especially when you are in the middle of the hot flash. You need to allow your body to cool as much as possible and as quickly as possible. The best solution is to wear thin and light cotton clothes.

Natural relief from perimenopause

These are some of the natural solutions to get relief from perimenopause. There are many medications and treatments too that women opt for as a solution. However, they are artificial and chemical solutions. If you want to stick to natural solutions, the above are some of the best-known answers.

Dealing with hot flashes

There are many women that suffer from perimenopause. One of the effects of perimenopause is hot flashes. They can be one of the toughest things to experience because you cannot avoid them and most times you really cannot predict it. Secondly, when it strikes it just seems to keep getting worse with no end. Living through a hot flash can be really uncomfortable.

The main problem with hot flashes is that it seems to just go into a vicious circle. The first instance of hot flash causes irritation in the body and if you try to overcome the irritation, it can lead to further, more intense hot flashes. In the end, you just keep entering into this circle of more and more discomfort till it eventually dies out.

The reason behind hot flashes

The reason behind the hot flashes is mostly a hormonal imbalance. Since this is a natural thing, you cannot do much to avoid it. The only thing you can do is feel more comfortable during the flash and reduce its duration. There are many simple tricks you can use for this. The main idea in all the techniques is to help the body keep cool. So in a sense, just think of what you would do on a really hot summer day and you can use those techniques.

Techniques to reduce discomfort

• Using layered clothing: If you are working in an office, then try to come prepared for a heat flash. You can wear layered clothing with say a very light cotton blouse and a jacket or even a jumper on top of the blouse. If you sense the hot flash coming, get rid of the jacket and the jumper. You will be able to cool down better without looking informal in the office. Also, wear skirts to the office when you are experiencing hot flashes. Skirts being open help circulate the air much better and thus help you cool down faster.

• Drinking ample water: This is pretty obvious; if you feel hot just cool down with some nice, cold water. Water is the best coolant that nature has to offer. You really do not need any additional additives in it. Just drink 1.5 to 2 litres of water every day and it can do wonders to your body – both in general as well as specifically to counter hot flashes.

• Use ice packs: This is another simple but effective technique to help reduce the discomfort during hot flashes. Keep an ice pack ready in the freezer, if your office has one. As soon as you sense a hot flash attack, just pick it and give yourself a good session with the ice pack. Ensure that you cover it with a towel to protect the body from the shock of sudden temperature drop.

• Turn on the cooler or air conditioner: This is a great solution when you are at home or some other private place. Once you start feeling the heat, turn on the cooler. If you cannot get air conditioning in your home, then get yourself something handheld like a small fan (whether you go for a classic one or an electric one).

Medication to help with menopause

• Elleste Solo

  There are several medicines which can help with menopause. During menopause, a woman's oestrogen hormone begins to drop. Many medications supplement oestrogen. One example is Elleste Solo, a menopause medication which works to offset the effects of menopause.

• Premique

  Another hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medication is Premique. It works to ease the symptoms of hot flashes, irregular menstrual cycles, night sweats, weight gain, thinning of hair and mood swings.

• Premarin

  Premarin is another medication your doctor may prescribe to treat hot flashes and other menopause symptoms.

• Livial

  Livial can treat the symptoms of menopause without the use of hormone ingredients. It can also lower the risk of certain cancers.

• Others

  There are many other hormone replacement therapy medications here at UK Meds. If you do not have a prescription for HRT medications, our online prescription service may be able to assist you in getting one.