A heat rush, also known as a hot flash, is a sensation of a sudden flood of heat in the upper part of your body. It starts with the neck and the face getting flushed. Red spots and blotches could appear on your neck, chest, arms and back. This flush could be followed either by heavy sweating or cold shivering.
Most heat rushes can last anywhere between thirty seconds to three hundred seconds (five minutes). Some rushes are as mild as slight blushes, while others are strong enough to wake a person up, from deep sleep. The phenomenon, where a person wakes up from sleep due to a heat rush, is known as night sweats. To differentiate, a hot flash is felt when a rush of heat permeates your upper body, while a night sweat is experiencing a hot flash when you sleep. Both hot flashes as well as night sweats can be pre-menopausal symptoms.
However, these symptoms are normally accompanied by other pre-menopausal symptoms like:
- A change in the severity, the pattern or the length of your periods. Menstrual flow can become - lighter, heavier, last longer or shorter, occur more frequently or less frequently, depending upon your body.
- Sleeping disorders, like insomnia or difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep. However, other factors like stress, anxiety and caffeine consumption could also cause sleeping disorders, which may not be related to pre-menopausal symptoms at all.
- Vaginal dryness or an increase in facial and body hair.
- Mood swings, irritability, grouchiness, the feeling of confusion or trouble staying focused on anything.
Hot flashes are probably the most bothersome symptoms of pre-menopause, as they can occur at any time, triggered of by anything, even when least expected. Apart from flooding the neck, face and chest area with extreme heat, a hot flash can lead to profuse sweating, elevated heartbeats and dizziness.
Dealing with hot flashes is not easy, but you can do so, by keeping a track of your flashes, which may help you identify a pattern and stay better prepared.
It may also be advisable to re-look at your clothing options. Avoid wearing synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester, as they trap the body heat, worsening the effects of the flash. Opt of loose, cool and comfortable clothing.
Keep yourself and body cool in different ways. Try sipping cold water throughout the day. Avoid hot baths, opting for cold showers instead. Stay away from the sun and keep your house well-ventilated.
Consume food and liquids that have a cooling effect on the body. Avoid tea, coffee, chocolate, alcohol and spicy food. Instead opt for citrus fruits like grapefruit and oranges that help ward off hot flashes.
answered by G M