Hot flashes — they start with a sudden flush, the feeling that your internal thermostat’s been turned up, and spontaneous perspiration. Many women know the sensation all too well.
Odds are that most women will have hot flashes during perimenopause or menopause. Some lucky women never have a single hot flash, but about 75% of women do. And, surprisingly, many women get them before they stop menstruating.
How often they occur and how long they last is difficult to predict. Many women have only one or two a day, while others have 10 or more. Some women’s hot flashes subside fairly quickly, while other women battle unrelenting hot flashes for many years.
Among the women who are affected, 25% endure hot flashes for more than five years. However, they generally become less frequent and less severe in about three years.
If you suffer from hot flashes, a few simple strategies may help you to beat the heat:
