Cool Facts About Heating Up - The Menopause Hot Flash

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Article Title:

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Cool Facts About Heating Up - The Menopause Hot Flash

Article Description:

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'It has been found that many women experiencing menopause

complain more about hot flashes than any other symptom, even

above the lack of sexual drive which usually also accompanies

menopause. Aside from the options trumpeted by big pharma, what

alterative options do today's women have for dealing with the

dreaded hot flash?'

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Distribution Date and Time: 2007-10-31 10:00:00

Written By: Dawn M. Olsen

Copyright: 2007

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Cool Facts About Heating Up - The Menopause Hot Flash

Copyright © 2007 Dawn M. Olsen

Menopause A to Z

http://www.menopauseatoz.com

Cool Facts About Heating Up - The Menopause Hot Flash There it

goes again! Another unannounced hot flash!

Without a prescription or an expensive trip to your OB/GYN, there

are some options a woman can appropriate to try to keep hot

flashes at bay, or at the least, minimize their intensity and

frequency. So the next time you find yourself revisited by the

heat demon, you might want to consider one or all of them. Look

at it this way. What have you got to lose? ... Except maybe the

time it takes to change into drier clothes, a quick make-up

touchup, and the price of another box of tissues to dab away the

perspiration.

Over recent years, there has been, and continues to be,

significant testing done about the symptoms of menopause. It has

been found that menopausal women complain more about hot flashes

than any other symptom, even above the lack of sexual drive which

usually also accompanies menopause. Because many women have a

fear of serious side effects with taking hormonal replacement

therapy drugs, or they just don't have the time, money, or the

inclination to address these menopause symptoms

(http://www.menopauseatoz.com/menopause-symptoms.shtml) with

alternative medications, they're essentially at a loss as to

what to do about the symptoms. For lack of information, they then

assume they just have to wait it out and hope for the best.

Most recently however, researchers have found its just simple

common sense that seems to rule for women experiencing menopause

but are not taking medication. By making a few simple

preparations, and modifying behavior and habits slightly, you can

definitely feel a difference, which will also go well with the

new optimistic attitude you'll gain.

According to Colette Bouchez of WebMD, " Doctors label hot flashes

a vasomotor symptom -- a series of biochemical events that unfold

when your temperature controlling mechanism goes slightly awry.

The result: Your body thinks you're overheated, even when

you're not. "

So what does a hot flash feel like? I would liken it to entering

a sauna fully clothed, and being required to sit there with no

way out for, let's say ... about 5 minutes. When your time's

up, you exit the sauna drenched in perspiration. Your body now

becomes chilled and the bumps on your damp skin prove it. The

quick change in temperature has you immediately grabbing for a

blanket to cover yourself because now you're 'freezing'. Once

you've traded the sticky, clinging clothes for drier, warmer

ones, a little time passes. Then, when you least expect it, your

internal 'sauna' kicks in and you get to do it all over again!

Oh, joy of joys!

While encountering different trials while traveling this road

called life, I've often wondered about how those of the past

handled similar situations. This is certainly one of those times.

Just how did the women of the day carry on through the menopausal

years without hormonal replacement therapies, required naps due

to migraine headaches, and all the body aches that make you feel

15 years older than you really are?

They spent their time in the fields with their husbands, cooking

and canning vegetables, and carrying wood. Were they just

stronger than we are today? Have we become so soft and pampered

with our modern conveniences that we now grumble about

everything?

In this day of advanced technology, space travel, and ingenious,

innovative gadgets, you would think something could be done about

hot flashes. I dare say that not all " advancements " are for the

better. Maybe it's time we look back, instead of ahead, and

learn from our past counterparts.

Just as in days gone by, there are things we can do right now, to

help relieve the hot flashes without the use of hormones. Most

would simply call it 'common sense'. We do have some

advantages, however, that previous women didn't have, so let's

explore some of them.

First, pay close attention to what you wear. This may sound

simple enough, but the truth is, it can make a big difference in

your hot flashes. Some of the synthetic, manmade fabrics hold

heat to a much greater degree than other natural fibers. Some of

the most notorious to stay away from are nylon, spandex, and

close-knit polyesters. Because they hold heat, they don't allow

you to cool down nearly as fast as cotton, or other natural

fabrics. Consequently, your hot flash will certainly last longer,

and possibly even be more intense.

For those hot flashes that occur while you sleep (more commonly

known as 'night sweats'), get rid of those pretty nylon

nighties and satin pajamas, and trade your polyester sheets in

for cotton ones. Believe me. You'll be much sexier to your

husband in dry cotton pajamas than in sweaty silk ones, too.

Also, dress for your climate. Heavy sweaters will certainly keep

you warm on those snowy days, but when a hot flash erupts,

there's no way for you to cool down afterward to avoid the

chills. Wear layers. You'll find it much easier and more

comfortable to remove the needed layers at will, than to suffer

with that beautiful but expensive sweater you can't do anything

about. It will save on the dry cleaning bill, too. If you must

wear a sweater, make it a cardigan so you can button or unbutton

when the heat demon visits.

Be active and exercise whenever you can. If you don't have time,

make time! Although many menopausal women think that exercise

will increase the hot flashes, doctors have actually found the

reverse to be true. In exercising daily, whether it's taking

walks, biking, running, swimming, or whatever activity you're

comfortable with, you'll find that over time, hot flashes will

decrease in frequency, and may even decrease in intensity.

Hallelujah!

If you're at home, you can also take advantage of cold water. If

you'll think back to the old western movies, you may remember

how the hot, arid conditions were emphasized when traveling

through the West. As an older child, I distinctly remember

watching the dust fly from the horses' hooves when the good guys

chased the bad guys. Something else I remember; the beautiful

women usually carried a cloth " hanky " . They'd moisten it and

femininely dab their brow and face from time to time. I used to

think it was from the hot sun. Now I know it was their hot

flashes!

Don't underestimate ice. It's lousy if you're trying to drive

on it, but it's a godsend when you need to cool down quickly.

Ice cubes work great. Hold one to your pulse points; your wrist,

inside your elbow, on back of your knee, or the back of your

neck. If you hold it in a washcloth, you won't have that

irritating " melt " running down your back or leg. If your hot

flash attacks at the office, head for the soda machine and use

the cold can on your pulse points instead of the ice. Every

little bit helps.

If you'd rather go " hi-tech " , there is a gel-filled 'scarf'

you can buy. Keep it in the freezer and place it on the back of

your neck when the heat begins creeping up on you. It stays cold

for over an hour and the best part ... it doesn't drip!

Women who reside in cooler homes or work in cooler offices tend

to have fewer hot flashes as well. So, keep the fan handy from

January through December. Concerning outside heat sources, it's

also advisable to avoid hot showers, whirlpool tubs, and

Jacuzzis. Anything that helps to raise body temperature should be

sidestepped.

Check your breathing pattern. Often times, when women become

excited, they change their breathing, which in turn increases

oxygen levels, which then also increases warmth. It's the

perfect combination to jumpstart a real hot flash. So, take a

deep breath and relax, especially if you become stressed. It can

decrease the number of hot flashes you experience as much as

50%.

In speaking about common sense; ironically, common " scents " can

also make a difference. The scents of lavender, vanilla, and

lemongrass, as well as essential oils like ylang-ylang, geranium,

and clary sage, have been found to bring on a relaxing sensation.

They have a calming affect to the body and can decrease hot

flashes, too.

On the other side of the coin, there are certain perfumes and

chemical smells that can easily heighten the frequency and

intensity of hot flashes. Because many of these are dependant on

the genetics of each individual woman, it's a good idea to

practice keeping the calming fragrances around.

One last deterrent to hot flashes is decreasing or quitting

smoking. Studies have shown that cigarettes can exacerbate hot

flashes because they trigger hormonal changes, particularly in

thin women. So, the bottom line is, cutting back on the number of

cigarettes you smoke is good, while quitting altogether is best.

So, next time you're watching an old Western and you see the

heroine wiping her brow; remember. Grab your cardigan and go for

a walk. When you return, take a cool shower, don your cotton

pajamas, get your soda and your ice cube, light your lavender

candle, sit back, take a deep breath ... and relax. It will all

be over soon.

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Dawn M. Olsen is an advocate for Better Women's Health through

Education, Recipe Developer, Soy Food Enthusiast, and Author of

Menopause A to Z, available now at http://www.menopauseatoz.com