Managing Hot Flashes

Menopause is an expectedly challenging time. Changing hormones creates uncertainty surrounding when (or if) you will get your period this month, uncontrollable hormones, sleep disturbances, and hot flashes.

For many women, it is the hot flashes that most bothersome. They make managing mood more difficult. If hot flashes arise at night, they can make sleep difficult and cause fatigue the next day.

There are several factors that trigger hot flashes. Some factors are out of our control, such as the weather outside. Summers tend to be aggravating for those with hot flashes. Food that is high in sugar and spice are delicious but can make hot flashes worse. Caffeine and alcohol also trigger hot flashes so it is helpful to swap your second coffee or evening cap for a glass of water infused with lemon.

If you feel you have eliminated these factors and you are still experiencing hot flashes, it may be time to check for hormonal imbalances. Estrogen and progesterone naturally decrease as a woman transitions in to menopause. Ideally, estrogen and progesterone decrease at about the same rate. This typically does not happen and the imbalance of estrogen and progesterone relative to other hormones in the body causes symptoms associated with menopause, especially hot flashes.

I have seen success with treating hot flashes using botanical medicine and bioidentical hormone therapy. There is no “one size fits all” but there is a treatment that fits your goals: short-term and long-term. It has been my experience that botanical medicine works really well for those who are proactive menopause. It tends to work slower but is less invasive to the body when compared to bioidentical hormones. We can discuss bioidentical hormones but it is important to use them cuatiously because they can increase the risk of breast and gynecological cancers. Not all individuals tolerate hormones well either.

I encourage you to find a healthcare provider that listens to your needs and is willing to supprt you along the way. That is what we do at Phoenix Anti-Aging Clinic.

Want to find out if we are a good fit for you? Please call us and schedule a free 15 minute consult.