Hot Flashes Raise Blood Pressure

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Hot Flashes Raise Blood Pressure

Here's a news flash about hot flashes -- new research indicates they're much more than a nuisance and are, in fact, associated with an increase in blood pressure and a decrease in both memory and quality of sleep. Therefore, it's a good idea to try to prevent them.

ABOUT HOT FLASHES

Hot flashes are most often associated with the hormonal changes of menopause -- but, in fact, they can continue long afterward and men can get them too when receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer. Among the recent studies linking health problems to hot flashes is one from Weill Medical College of Cornell University, which showed that hot flashes are associated with an increase in blood pressure -- participants (all women) who had experienced hot flashes in the two previous weeks had significantly higher systolic blood pressure (the top number) than those who had not. Other studies have linked them with memory problems and insomnia. I turned to

frequent Daily Health News contributor Mark Stengler, ND, for the latest on how to minimize these uncomfortable and perhaps even unhealthy episodes.

Dr. Stengler sees many patients complaining about their hot flashes. While it is not yet known exactly what causes them, it appears to have something to do with the heat regulatory center of the brain, which seems to overreact by signaling chemicals that prompt the body to release heat. Estrogen clearly plays a role in attenuating hot flashes -- that's a key reason many women took hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which many felt compelled to give up after the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study showed it increased health risks. Without hormones, though, the hot flashes returned, sometimes with a vengeance.

COOLING THINGS DOWN If hot flashes are presenting problems in your life, Dr. Stengler suggests your first step should be to request testing of your adrenal gland function. The adrenals help regulate stress and Dr. Stengler says that women whose adrenal glands work efficiently tend to have less trouble with hot flashes.

Natural therapy is often the next step. Dr. Stengler typically prescribes herbs and supplements, including the following:

Pycnogenol, from the bark of a French maritime pine, which can help reduce incidence of hot flashes.

Gamma oryzanol, a naturally occurring mixture of plant chemicals found in rice bran oil, found to be helpful in relieving symptoms.

Red clover extract, which contains mildly estrogenic isoflavones. This can help reduce the number of hot flashes you suffer.

Black cohosh, an herb grown in the US. Because it contains estrogen-like substances, black cohosh may reduce hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Note: Black cohosh may also help prevent breast cancer.

Vitex, an herbal also called Chaste Tree, found to be helpful for relieving symptoms.

Maca extract, from a Peruvian plant. Associated with many health benefits including hot flash relief, Maca can also help smooth out adrenal gland function.

Seek the advice of a physician trained in the use of natural therapies and, with supervision, start with one of the above, suggests Dr. Stengler. If you haven't seen improvement after six weeks or so, ask your doctor about adding another or perhaps switching to a different therapy.

Dr. Stengler treats some women with bioidentical hormones. Unlike synthetic pharmaceutical hormones, bioidenticals are from plants and, as the name implies, more closely mimic the body's own hormones. Dr. Stengler says he often prescribes bioidentical hormones for women who have had premature menopause caused by injuries to the ovaries or an early hysterectomy, as well as for those who get no relief from the natural substances described above. A few words of caution, however: It's not known if bioidentical hormones pose any of the risks that HRT does. They should therefore be carefully monitored by a health care professional knowledgeable about their use.

IT HELPS TO CHILL Lifestyle changes can also help dial back the frequency or severity of your hot flashes, according to Dr. Stengler. If you smoke, stop -- it has been associated with hot flashes. Dr. Stengler also recommends incorporating plenty of plant foods into your diet, including all kinds of legumes and vegetables. Soy foods, which contain naturally occurring phytoestrogens, can ease flashes. Tempeh, tofu, soy milk and soy nuts are good sources. Also good for menopausal symptoms: One to two tablespoons of ground flaxseeds daily.

Exercise makes a difference, says Dr. Stengler. He recommends 40 minutes a day (or more) of aerobic exercise to help reduce hot flashes. Stress-lowering techniques are beneficial -- stress may trigger hot flashes. In addition to exercise, try to add other techniques to your stress-relief arsenal such as meditation, quiet reading, music and other activities you find relaxing.

Other simple reminders: Keep your bedroom cool at night, wear loose clothing and dress in layers so that you can remove one or two if necessary. Many women notice their hot flashes can be triggered by alcohol, spicy foods, hot drinks, caffeine and other things. While most hot flashes do seem to eventually fade into history, you can help it happen faster by following Dr. Stengler's advice. This, it seems, might be cool news for your health overall.

Source(s):

Mark Stengler, ND, is a naturopathic physician and leading authority on the practice of alternative and integrated medicine. He is author of Bottom Line/Natural Healing newsletter, author of The Natural Physician's Healing Therapies (Bottom Line Books), director of the La Jolla Whole Health Clinic in La Jolla, California, and adjunct associate clinical professor at the National College

of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. To learn more about his work, visit www.drstengler.com.

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