If you've had one, there's no mistaking; it's sudden and intense! The flash usually affects your upper body and face, perhaps preceded or accompanied by a number of disruptive symptoms such as rapid heartbeat and sweating, anxiety, or headache. The flash is followed by a flush, leaving you reddened and perspiring and there is no way to hide it. You can have a soaker (UGH!), or merely a moist upper lip or forehead (that's enough). A chill can lead off the episode or be the grand finale (sweater off - sweater on???).
Hot flashes and sweats are common among woman transitioning from perimenopause into menopause (30's-50's age group)... blame it on changes in hormones, not "who turned off the air conditioning?!".
The hypothalamus which is sometimes referred to as the body's "thermostat", is the part of the brain responsible for controlling your sleep cycles and body temperature. Somehow the drop in estrogen confuses the hypothalamus and makes it read "TOO HOT!". The body's confused response... "get rid of the heat". Your heart pumps faster, the blood vessels in your skin dilate to circulate more blood to radiate off the heat, and your sweat glands release sweat to cool you off - soaking sweat followed by a chill... miserable!
When these symptoms occur at night, it may result in chronic insomnia and reduced quality of life.
Some natural remedies:
1. Follow the sleep tips we've outline on the SleepCompass website. These tips will certainly get you started.
2. Two tablespoons of Flax seed sprinkled on cereal or yogurt. Some research by the Mayo Clinic suggest flax seed helps reduce the number and intensity of hot flashes.
3. Hot flashes deplete the body of B vitamins, vitamin C, and magnesium and potassium. Consider increasing the intake of these and don't forget calcium too (consult your physician first).
4. Avoid (as much as possible) triggers such as spicy foods, alcohol, sugar, hot drinks, and hot weather. Reduce stress with yoga, meditation, visualization and prayer. Evaluate the quality of your sheets.
5. Exercise helps to relieve hot flashes by lowering the amount of LH (luteinising hormone) that when released, are related to the initiation of hot flashes. Also, exercising raises endorphine levels which drop during a hot flash. Just 20 minutes three times a week can significantly reduce hot flashes.
6. Slow abdominal breathing 6-8 breaths per minute, can bring about a 40% decrease in frequency of hot flashes according to two research psychologist from Wayne State university. Use this technique 15 minutes twice a day and when you feel a hot flash coming on.
There are a number of herbs to help reduce or even eliminate hot flashes and in turn address insomnia and fragmented sleep at night. BEFORE you embark on an herb or supplemental regime, consult your physician!
For more information on this topic visit: Dr. Christiane Northup M.D.
SleepCompass.com - Nancy
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1 comment:
What you say is true however there is another cause of a feeling like a hot flush or sudden tiredness that we have observed and that is some Spiritual Being has come into your Aura.
This has the affect of disturbing your Aura and Chakras. When Chakras become disturbed this can also disturb your hypothalamus.
These disturbed Human Energy Fields can be easily restored by a competent Energy Healer.
If you are getting many disturbances it may be worth being checked for the constant presence of Spiritual Beings and have them removed permanently.
With Love
Ian Stone – Founder of HEART Energy Healing System,
Human Energy Assessment Release Treatments
Metaphysical Institute
Metaphysical Institute Blog
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