Some women have hot flashes for a few years, some women have them for decades. Hot flashes can be the most bothersome symptom of menopause and can happen during the day or at night (as night sweats). Here are a few strategies to help with your symptoms from the hormonal changes related to menopause.
Lifestyle Changes
Women with hot flashes have a more sensitive internal thermostats in their brain. Lifestyle changes to stay cool and adjust your temperature can help your hot flashes.
- Avoid excessively warm rooms, drinks, foods.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, stress, and cigarette smoking.
- Wear clothes in layers, so you can remove layers when you need to.
- Try different strategies to stay cool while sleeping.
- Cool down with a fan, cold pack, or other cooling products.
Non-medication remedies
When nonprescription treatments are studied scientifically, they typically are as effective as a placebo
- Including Soy in Diet: Soy contains isoflavones. Having one or two servings of low-fat soy foods such as tofu, tempeh, soymilk, roasted soy nuts may help with hot flashes.
Medication options
Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Hormone replacement therapy with estrogen (with or without progesterone) is one of the most effective treatments for hot flashes.
Using hormones can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and estrogen-sensitive cancers (such as breast cancer). However, studies show that the benefits may outweigh risks for healthy women younger than age 60 with moderate to severe hot flashes and low risk of cardiovascular disease.
Non-Hormone medications
- Medications that treat anxiety and depression have also been shown to reduce hot flashes in women without depression. These medications include Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI’s), such as paroxetine and escitalopram, as well as Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI’s) such as Venlafaxine (Effexor), and (Lexapro).
- Gabapentin (Neurontin), a medication that is also used to treat migraine and nerve pain, has been shown to decrease hot flashes.
It is important to discuss with your healthcare provider to find the best treatment plan for your individual needs.