Managing Hot Flashes Caused by Menopause

All women, so long as they live long enough, will go through menopause. Menopause is defined as the point in time when a woman has gone 12 months since her last menstrual period. This is a natural part of aging and when the ovaries stop producing reproductive hormones.

Menopause can cause a lot of different symptoms. In fact, at least 50% of women experience symptoms of menopause that inhibit them from being able to work at all or to the level that they typically perform.

“The symptom of menopause that is most bitterly complained about is hot flashes. Most women experience some form of hot flashes, some worse than others,” explains Terry Gibbs, DO, FACOG, NCMP, an OB-GYN with ProMedica Physicians Obstetrics | Gynecology - Defiance.

Dr. Gibbs explores treatment options and lifestyle changes to help women cope with hot flashes caused by menopause.

Lifestyle Changes

According to Dr. Gibbs, the following lifestyle changes may help reduce the number of hot flashes or make symptoms more bearable:

• Dressing in layers and using cooling devices such as cool packs or small fans.
• Avoiding triggers. “For some women, having a glass of wine or eating hot food will trigger hot flashes,” Dr. Gibbs shares. Simply avoiding these things is a good way to ward off hot flashes.
• Exercising. “Exercise, specifically yoga, has shown promising effects for avoiding hot flashes,” Dr. Gibbs shares. “Women who exercise report less hot flashes than women who don’t.”
• Weight loss. If you’re overweight, losing weight is a proven way of lowering the number of hot flashes.

Mind-Body Techniques

Cognitive behavioral therapy can help you think about a problem in a different way, and in a more positive light. “Mentally, when you think about and how you think about things is extremely powerful. How people view and approach certain problems can be game-changing,” Dr. Gibbs shares.

Clinical hypnosis and mindfulness have also proven to be effective.

Dietary Supplements

If you visit the grocery store, you will likely find a whole wall of dietary supplements and herbal remedies that claim to help control hot flashes. Unfortunately, the success of dietary supplements in treating hot flashes is 50/50. This could be attributed to the fact that dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA, so the contents of supplements may vary by brand.

Dr. Gibbs stresses the importance of looking into the brand that is creating the supplement and ensuring that you know exactly what is in the supplement that you are consuming. Remember to talk with your provider before starting any supplements.

Complementary Medicine

Complementary medicine such as acupuncture and chiropractic care require consistent, long-term treatment to aid in relieving symptoms. Dr. Gibbs explains that while these have not been scientifically proven to relieve symptoms, you can certainly try them to see if they help you.

Another complementary treatment is a stellate ganglion block. It involves an injection of a medication into your neck and has proven to be highly effective in treating hot flashes. However, there are risks to consider with this injection. 

Prescription Medications

Prescription medications are the most used and researched treatment option for hot flashes. The most effective prescription medication treatment for hot flashes caused by menopause is estrogen.

However, there are situations where women cannot take estrogen. For example, if you’ve had breast or uterine cancer, are over age 60 or have been experiencing menopause for more than 10 years, the use of estrogen for treatment of menopause symptoms is not recommended.

In this case, there are several other medications that may be recommended.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), such as Prozac, can be highly effective in treating hot flashes. “The hormone in the brain that is affected by these medications has an effect on the temperature center in the brain,” Dr. Gibbs shares. These medications can help reduce the number of hot flashes in a day as well as the intensity.

“For otherwise healthy individuals, the first treatment of should always be estrogen,” Dr. Gibbs shares. While hormone treatment works over 90% of the time, SSRIs work just under 50% of the time.

Other medications that may be prescribed to reduce hot flashes include Neurontin, Clonidine, Oxybutynin and Veozah.

Veozah is a brand-new class of medication that addresses the hormone center in the brain to treat hot flashes. “This medication is a game-changer. Some people experience immediate relief after one dose,” Dr. Gibbs shares.

Talk to your provider about what treatment or medication might be right for you and consider seeing a provider who specializes in menopause management. Learn more from Dr. Gibbs in this Women’s Health Talk Webinar: How To Cope With Hot Flashes.