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Causes of Hot Flashes: Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her reproductive system stops producing mature eggs for fertilization. This is the body’s way of shutting down the reproductive system so that the woman does not get pregnant. As human beings get older, their bodies tend to be frail and it may not be possible to bear the physical strain of pregnancy. When this shut down happens, there are several hormonal changes that occur in a woman. The important hormones that control a woman’s reproductive system and her sexual characteristics are estrogen and progesterone. Rapid changes or fluctuations can take place in the levels of these hormones which can cause a woman to suffer from a condition known as hot flashes.
When a woman experiences a hot flash, she will feel extremely hot, her body will begin to sweat and her heart rate will rise. The occurrence of hot flashes is different from woman to woman. Some women have many flashes and are likely to have recurring episodes while others may not experience more than a couple of them. Hot flashes have also been linked to environmental conditions and are likely to occur in conjunction with warm temperatures. Hot flashes tend to last for a duration of 30 minutes or so.
Treatment for Hot Flashes: Hot flashes are treated with hormone controlling medication. If certain hormones are detected to be lower than normal, hormone replacement therapy is generally recommended. Treatments vary based on the amount of time the patient has been suffering from the flashes. If the flashes are manageable, the doctor may suggest dietary changes alone as hormone therapy can have some side effects.
Foods for Hot Flashes: A link between the food and drink consumption and hot flashes exists. It has been understood that drinks containing caffeine are likely to increase the chances of suffering hot flashes as well as the intensity of the flashes themselves. The intake of tea and coffee should thus be moderated if a woman has developed hot flashes. Along with this, alcohol tends to have a negative effect on a person suffering from hot flashes and should be avoided. Spicy food too should be avoided. If a woman is menopausal, then she should not consume spicy food as this is difficult to digest and can cause sweating which will exacerbate the condition of hot flashes and may even lead to the onset of an episode of flashes. Hot Flashes Diet: Consuming plenty of fluid-rich fruits like melons and cantaloupe will help to decrease the occurrence of hot flashes.
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