What Are Hot Flashes a Sign Of?

Menopause or perimenopause is the most common cause of hot flashes in women in their late 40s on. Other conditions and medications can also cause hot flash symptoms.

Hot flashes are a sudden feeling of heat in the body, usually most intense on the chest, neck, and face, that may become generalized throughout the body. The heat sensation is usually accompanied by sweating and skin redness. As the heat dissipates, it may be followed by chills and shivering. 

Other symptoms of hot flashes include: 

• Palpitations
• Dizziness
• Shaking
• Headaches

Night sweats are hot flashes that occur during the night that may disrupt sleep.

There are numerous causes of hot flashes. The most common cause is menopause and perimenopause (the period before menopause occurs) in women. This is due to the decrease in hormones that occurs during menopause. 

Other causes of hot flashes include: 

• Use of certain medications
  • Alcohol, alcohol plus chlorpromazine or disulfuram, amyl nitrate, diltiazem, nicotinic acid (niacin), levodopa, bromocriptine, and tamoxifen
• Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)
• Emotional distress/anxiety
• Obesity
• Drinking hot beverages
• Eating spicy foods
• Certain medical conditions
  • Carcinoid syndrome
  • Thyroid disorders
  • Systemic mastocytosis
  • Basophilic chronic granulocytic leukemia
  • VIPoma
  • Pheochromocytoma
  • Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid
  • Renal cell carcinoma
  • Diencephalic seizures
  • Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
  • Rosacea

It is important to determine the underlying cause of the hot flashes. 

Hot flashes that are due to outside factors such as drinking hot beverages, eating spicy foods, or drinking alcohol can be prevented by stopping the activity. 

Treatment for other causes of hot flashes includes: 

• Menopause
  • Lifestyle changes such as stress reduction techniques, healthy diet, and regular exercise
  • Hormone therapy 
• Anaphylaxis
  • Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Call 911 and get to a hospital’s emergency department if you experience: 
    • Respiratory distress
    • Wheezing or stridor
    • Trouble talking
    • Low blood pressure (hypotension)
    • Fainting
    • Rapid heart rate
    • Face, lip, mouth, or tongue swelling
    • Swallowing problems
    • Gastrointestinal distress such as vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain
    • Joint swelling and/or pain
  • Removal of the allergen
  • Epinephrine
• Medications
  • Switching to another drug or reducing the dosage may alleviate the hot flashes
  • Never stop taking prescribed medication without first talking to your doctor 
• Obesity
  • Weight loss
  • Healthy diet
  • Regular exercise