Understanding Hot Flashes During Perimenopause
As perimenopause triggers internal temperature fluctuations and outdoor temperatures soar, women face a double challenge of discomfort. Dr. Aarthi Sinha, a general practitioner and menopause specialist, notes that summer often intensifies hot flashes and sleep issues. "Menopause can impair your body's ability to regulate temperature," she explains, making extreme heat more difficult to endure. She adds, "Hot nights are common in summer, especially if your body already struggles with additional stressors or menopausal symptoms."
Causes and Mechanisms of Hot Flashes
Understanding the causes of hot flashes can help manage them. Dr. Amalia Annaradnam describes a hot flash as a sudden, intense wave of warmth in the upper body, often accompanied by skin redness and sweating. Although the precise mechanism remains unclear, it's believed that declining estrogen levels affect the hypothalamus, prompting blood vessel dilation. Hot flashes can also occur due to other health conditions, medications, hormonal fluctuations before periods, or stress.
Strategies to Stay Cool
To stay cool, Dr. Vanessa Coppola reco...