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Expert tips and top products to stop a hot flash, fast
If you are reading these words, chances are you've spent sometime in the last few weeks waking up in a pool of sweat or are having the worst time regulating your body temperature. If you’re worried menopause is setting in and need a remedy for your hot flashes, you’re not alone. Hot flashes occur in around 80% of menopausal women and can include periods of sweating, flushing and chills lasting for several minutes. We've taken a deep dive into all things hot flashes to help better understand what causes them and how to stop the internal inferno that is raging within.
Bedsure Cooling Sheets Set
Cooling Bamboo Sheet
Cooling Gel Pillows for Sleeping
Cooling pillows
Menopause Support Probiotics for Women
Probiotics for hot flashes
Nature's Way Black Cohosh Root
Black Cohosh Root for hot flash relief
FROGG TOGGS Cooling Towel
The Original Chilly Pad Cooling Towel
JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan
3-IN-1 portable Hand Fan
What are hot flashes?
On average, menopause happens in your late 40s to early 50s. But, as a rule, true menopause isn’t in full swing until one year after your final menstrual period. If it’s been 12 months, it's likely your hot flashes are a direct symptom of menopause. The symptoms include a sudden flare of heat and sweating both during the day and night. These dreaded internal flashes of heat can vary by person, including the severity and length of time you endure this uncomfortable side effect of menopause. But one thing remains the same for all who experience a hot flash: its onset is uncontrollable and uncomfortable. Thankfully, you can take steps to manage and minimalize the hot flashes.
What can trigger a hot flash?
There are actually a lot of common things in your normal life that trigger a hot flash; some you can control, others not so much. Triggers of hot flashes can include:
Hot weather
Heat
Smoking
Caffeine
Alcohol
Spicy foods
Tight clothing
Stress
Do hot flashes go away after menopause?
Even after you’ve dialed the thermostat down to arctic temperatures, the hot flash's length can vary from person to person. This also goes for how long you have to endure regular intervals of hot flashes. You might only experience hot flashes for a short time during menopause, or your hot flashes could continue until you become post-menopausal. In other cases, they could last for the rest of your life. The good news is that hot flashes that last a long period of time often become less severe as time goes on.
How to treat hot flashes
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Traditionally, the most effective treatment for hot flashes has been estrogen supplementation – often referred to as hormone replacement therapy. Unfortunately, estrogen isn’t recommended for everyone, especially women with a history of breast cancer, blood clots, or certain other medical conditions. As always, a discussion with your healthcare provider is recommended, as estrogen is believed to increase the risk of future health problems, including heart disease, breast cancer, and blood clots.
Non-hormonal Hot Flash Therapy
Recently, the FDA Approved Veozah, the first neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist approved by the FDA to treat moderate to severe hot flashes from menopause. It is an oral medication taken daily and works by binding to and blocking the activities of the NK3 receptor, which plays a role in the brain’s regulation of body temperature, according to the FDA.
Adjust your diet
Plant estrogens, such as isoflavones, are thought to reduce hot flashes.
Examples of foods with isoflavones include:
Soybeans
Chickpeas
Lentils
Flaxseed
Grains
Beans
Fruits
Red clover
Vegetables
In general, soybeans, chickpeas and lentils are considered to have the most powerful plant estrogens. You should also try to avoid hot and spicy foods, caffeinated beverages and alcohol, which can trigger hot flashes. Above all, listen to your body’s cues to recognize your triggers and work to avoid them until you are clear of all hot flashes.
Avoid stress
Stress can trigger a hot flash. It’s important to practice self-care in the form of exercise, yoga, meditation, guided breathing, Tai Chi or walking.
Stay cool day and night
With your fluctuating internal temperature having a mind of its own, it’s best to keep the thermostat at a cool temperature and dress in layers. When you start to feel the hot flash coming on, you can remove a layer or two to cool your body down. Wear cotton whenever possible, and avoid spandex, nylon, and rayon, which tend to trap body heat.
Above, we mention the clinical and lifestyle changes you can make to help end the hot flash insanity. But many great products can help keep you cool and comfortable when the hot flashes strike. Check out some of our highly-rated favorites below to help keep your own personal summers at bay.
Top products for hot flashes
Cooling sheets and pillows
These sheets are made with a unique twill weave, making the bed sheets stronger than cotton and smooth like silk. With over 36,000 5-star reviews, you can be sure these sheets are cooling clouds of silky soft sleep happiness.
Made with innovative blend of high-end shredded memory foam and microfiber, QUTOOL cooling memory foam pillows molds to the contours of your neck. Another cult favorite with over 8,000 5-star reviews.
Probiotics for night sweats
These probiotics are specially formulated to offer multi-symptom menopause relief for women - Cool hot flashes, elevate your mood and start feeling like yourself again.
Black Cohosh
Black cohosh, a flowering herbal plant native to Canada and the US, has been used since ancient times to treat many ailments. One such use is helping women alleviate hot flashes and night sweats. And while the reviews and journals speak for themselves, we do want to point out that even though it's a cult favorite and has long been used for women's health, laboratory studies of black cohosh's effectiveness have had mixed results, the supplement might be harmful to the liver in rare circumstances, so consult with your doctor before starting any supplement. Each capsule contains 540 mg of Black Cohosh root.
Instant hot flash relief with cooling towels and personal fans
For immediate on-the-go cooling relief from hot flashes, you could invest in either a cooling towel that draws the heat away from your skin or a hand-held fan that is compact enough to fit in a small purse.
All it takes is wetting the towel in water to activate its cooling properties. It instantly will become up to 30 degrees less than the air around you. Then you press the cool towel against your skin to draw away heat and give you an immediate cooling effect.
This compact, rechargeable hand-held fan is perfect for on-the-go cooling, and it includes a flashlight for night use. One single charge offers 14+ hours of use!
