what are hot flashes caused by?
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Hot flushes usually affect women who are approaching the menopause and are thought to be caused by changes in your hormone levels affecting your body's temperature control. They can happen without warning throughout the day and night, but can also be triggered by: eating spicy foods. caffeine and alcohol.
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Low serotonin may also trigger hot flashes—keeping serotonin levels up may help reduce a woman's risk for hot flashes. 5-HTP has been shown in scientific studies to promote relaxation and alleviate stress and anxiety. Research also indicates 5-HTP may be effective in helping to alleviate depression.
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Hot flashes are related to decreased levels of estrogen. Hot flashes and night sweats can wake women up many times at night. Along with sweating and feeling hot, there is an increase in heart rate.
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While hot flashes can be a normal PMS symptom for some, they can be a sign of early menopause, now known as primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), in others.
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Menopause. The hot flashes that accompany menopause can occur at night and cause sweating. This is a very common cause of night sweats in women. Idiopathic hyperhidrosis.
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Most symptoms of menopause are permanent, unless the woman takes hormones or other medications. Hot flashes usually last about two years, but for 15%-20% of women, they never go away. Insomnia or sleep disturbances also can continue to be a problem.
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Hot flashes are a normal by-product of pregnancy. 1 in 3 women will experience hot flashes at some point during their pregnancy. There is a 5X increase in hot flashes for pregnant women as opposed to non-pregnant women.
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A 2008 U.S. study found that 30% of women still had hot flashes 10 to 19 years after menopause, and so did 20% who were more than 20 years past menopause. A 2011 study of more than 8,000 Latin American women found that more than 60% reported these symptoms 12 years after menopause.
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Symptoms like hot flashes and sleep disturbances are common during this time. But if you're taking birth control pills, you might not associate these symptoms with menopause. Hormonal birth control — such as the pill — often causes symptoms like these.
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Hot flashes and night sweats are commonly associated with menopause, but they may also be early signs of pregnancy. During a hot flash, you'll feel a quick rush of heat that can cause you to sweat and your face to become red and flush.
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Menopause. Menopause happens when your body's balance of two hormones, estrogen and progesterone, changes dramatically and your menstrual cycle ends. Along with sudden hot flashes, cold sweats are among the most noticeable physical symptoms of menopause.
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5. Infections. Any infection which causes a fever can trigger hot flush symptoms. Issues such as a urinary tract infection could create hot flushes as the body's temperature raises as it tries to kill off the viral or bacterial infection.
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Diabetes and Hot Flashes. If you're a woman approaching or in menopause, hot flashes may be the bane of your existence. Those all-too-familiar bursts of heat can mean discomfort and much misery. Women who have diabetes may have hot flashes that can be linked with low blood sugars, too.
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Frequent or persistent hot flashes could be a sign that you're at higher risk for a heart attack or stroke.
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You start to have hot flashes similar to those a woman has during perimenopause and menopause. You experience erectile dysfunction and low sperm count. Your interest in sex (libido) decreases.
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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - While past research has shown a link between menopause and high blood pressure, a new study suggests there is a relationship between hot flashes and high blood pressure, independent of menopausal status.
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When your body creates too much thyroid hormone (your doctor will call this hyperthyroidism) it can really turn up the heat. It might even bring on early menopause (before you turn 40 or in your early 40s). There are medications to treat this problem. Once you get it under control, your hot flashes will ease up.