Hot flashes are many women’s worst nightmare, especially when they manifest into night sweats and keep them awake all night. Most women begin experiencing hot flashes when they enter into perimenopause – the transition period leading into menopause. If you suffer from hot flashes, knowing the triggers might help you prevent them some of the time. Eagle’s Landing OB/GYN lists hot flash triggers below. Avoiding some of these things can stop your hot flashes at least some of the time.
Hot Flash Triggers
Bending Over
Oddly, bending over causes hot flashes in some women. This is because bending over changes your blood pressure. If you suffer from high blood pressure or conditions the fluctuate your blood pressure suddenly, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, you might heat up every time you bend over.
Certain Beverages
Certain beverages can also cause hot flashes. When you drink alcohol, even a glass of wine, the alcohol converts into sugar and increases your estrogen. This will heat you up quickly. Caffeine also causes hot flashes because it boosts your metabolism to unnatural heights. Avoid both to stave the sweats.
Certain Foods
If you’re really having a difficult time with hot flashes and night sweats, you might have to change your diet. Avoid sugary foods if you’re addicted to them and it’s also time to give up that spicy Indian or Mexican food. Sugar and spice – the hot kind of spice – increase hot flash occurrences.
Heat
Did you find yourself ripping off your clothes while sitting in your toasty living room last winter? This is because sitting in a hot room can trigger hot flashes. The reason why is uncertain. If you’re cold because it’s cold outside, you turn up the heat to keep warm. For some reason, this can cause a hot flash.
Smoking
If you haven’t quit smoking yet it’s time to seriously think about doing so. Smoking and hot flashes go hand-in-hand in perimenopausal and menopausal women and smoking can also cause hot flashes in men. Love yourself by quitting this dangerous and deadly habit. You’ll feel cooler as a result.
Stress
Although the change in hormones during perimenopause and menopause makes it hard to keep calm, it’s important that you do so. Stress gives your blood pressure a spike and, you guessed it, you’ll have a hot flash as a result. Do things such as exercise, meditation, and yoga to keep your stress and anxiety at bay.
Tight Clothes
Finally, dress loosely and layered to prevent hot flashes. Tight clothes trap your body’s heat and since you’re already prone to heating up when you least expect it, it’s important to let excess heat escape. Dress in loose clothing and layer, so you can take things off when you have a hot flash.
Eagle’s Landing OB/GYN is located in Stockbridge, GA, and we’d be happy to help you with your hot flashes. Call us to schedule an appointment. Our number is 770-474-1919.
