Caduceus I © lynette sheppard
Hot flashes. They’re one of the worst symptoms of the Big M. And they can last for years. It’s not fair, but there you have it.
Hot flashes or flushes are due to a malfunction in the hypothalamus, the temperature-regulating center of the brain. That’s been known for quite a while. The problem has been the how or why of the malfunction. Finally, researchers have narrowed it down to a specific set of neurons in the hypothalamus.
Okayyyyyyy. Good to know. How about some help? Is hormone therapy vs suffering the only answer? Maybe not. Help may be on the way in the form of a new class of non-hormonal medications that the FDA is reviewing. These drugs will specifically target the malfunctioning neurons greatly decreasing the number and severity of hot flashes. And they could be approved as soon as this year. Hallelujah.
Stay tuned. This could be a game changer for menopausal women. We will keep you posted. For now, if you are suffering hot flashes and need help now, put “hot flash” in the Word Search box here on the blog to bring up all the posts about this most debilitating symptom. You’ll learn tips, remedies, and treatments for staying cool during the menopause transition.
For more detailed information, check out this article in National Geographic. Yes, ladies. Attention is being paid to our plight. Better late than never.
