Have you experienced a sudden burning sensation from inside your body? This makes you sweat profusely. One moment you are normal and then suddenly you are bombarded with a hot flash. You feel heat emerging from your head and neck and then spread all over your body. You may also feel a bit feverish. It makes you perspire a lot.
Hot flashes are common in women who approach their menopause. At this stage hormonal changes take place and there is a drastic drop in the levels of estrogen. This is the main reason for hot flashes. Here he body tries to cool itself and maintain normal temperature. This comes as hot flashes. Hot flashes make you feel awkward for about 30 seconds and once it goes away, your face turns red and you start sweating. Some women experience it even in the middle of their sleep.
Effective Remedies for Hot Flashes and Night Sweat:
Don’t pop diet pills:
Weight loss helps you to reduce the intensity of hot flashes, but taking diet pills to lose weight will not make conditions better. Diet pills may disturb the levels of various hormones in the body, including the levels of estrogen and progesterone. As a result, it will increase your susceptibility to hot flashes.
Go to the freezer:
Hot flash starts in the head and then spreads to the neck, shoulders and to other parts of the body. When you feel that you are going to get a hot flash, rush to the freezer and put your face near it. The cooling effect of the freezer helps in soothing the hot flash and you will be able to stop it soon.
Healthy diet to include phytoestrogens:
Estrogens derives from plants are termed ‘phytoestrogens’. By including sufficient quantities of foods rich in phytoestrogens in your diet, you can maintain the right level of estrogen in your body. Alfalfa and licorice are rich sources of phytoestrogens. These foods can have a high impact on the levels of hormones in your body. So, before you have it, talk to your doctor so that you have an idea as to how much of this food you can include in your daily diet.
Have a good night sleep:
A good sleep helps in improving the internal activities of the body. This is regarded as a natural remedy for hot flashes. You must sleep at least for 6 to 8 hours a day. Make sure that you get this sleep at night and not at day time. Having a proper sleep can make a good difference in the pattern and severely of your hot flashes.
Include fish in your diet:
Fish is a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids, which is great for combating hot flashes. Tuna, mackerel and sardines are good for providing you enough omega 3 fatty acids. Have 2 or 3 servings of these fish per week and it helps you to reduce the occurrence of hot flashes.
Keep it cool:
Having a bath in hot water can lead to a sudden rise in your body’s temperature and you may experience hot flash. Here your entire body is exposed to high temperature therefore the intensity of hot flash will also be high. So, you must take bath in lukewarm water or cool water to reduce chances of hot flashes.
Keeping stress at bay:
Stress is one of the main causes for disturbing the hormone levels in women, no matter what her age. Chronic stress can disturb the levels of estrogen and progesterone and this leads to hormonal imbalance. Women who approach their menopause must try and avoid stressing themselves if they want to reduce hot flashes. Meditation and breathing exercise are great for reducing stress and calming your nerves. Meditate for at least 30 minutes every morning to keep your mind clam and peaceful. It also helps in increasing your mental stamina. It makes you able to face demanding situations in a clam way and prevents mental stress and hormonal imbalances. As a result, you will suffer less from hot flashes.
Lie down and rest:
You feel uneasy when you experience hot flash. You can lie on the bed if you are at home. Or else you can rest on the chair till the heat leaves your body. Try to relax your body and let the hot flash go away. It is also a good idea to carry a hand fan with you. This can get you relief from the intensity of hot flashes.
Shed the extra pounds:
Obese women experience more of these hot flashes when they reach heir menopause because of their extra weight. So, to control hot flashes, try to follow a healthy diet and reduce your weight. Reducing weight helps in cutting down the occurrences of hot flashes. According to research made, for every 5 kg reduction of weight, women experience a 33% decrease in the intensity of hot flashes
Say no to coffee:
Coffee can cause an increase in the internal temperature of the body. So, it can make things worse for you. When there is a sudden rise in temperature, your body reacts to it by giving you a hot flash, as sweating is a way of the body to cool itself. So, avoid coffee or cut back on coffee for a while.
Stop alcohol:
Women who drink alcohol experience frequent hot flashes as alcohol leads to an increase in the internal temperature of the body. It is a better idea that you avoid it for a while and allow your hormones to settle down.
Wear cotton clothes:
Cotton clothes help in keeping your body cool by absorbing sweat and maintaining normal temperature of the body. Synthetic fabrics on the other hand interfere with perspiration and give rise to an increase in body temperature. This leads to the occurrence of hot flashes.
Yogic exercises:
Yoga helps in increasing the flexibility of the body and is great for the overall health of the body. Yoga is also good for losing extra pounds and to get a slim body. It works from inside and can restore the hormonal balance in the body. This in turn helps in reducing the occurrence of hot flashes.