THEThe most frequent and often more annoying symptom of the arrival of the menopause is represented by hot flashes, often nocturnal and therefore associated with awakenings. Interesting at least 80% of women with different intensity and frequency and they can last from 5 to 10 years, on average 7.2 years.
Flushing: the help of Hormone Replacement Therapy
There are several therapies that are used to try to solve this problem. Certainly the most effective and fastest acting therapy is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) which we know, however, cannot be prescribed to all women.
The new guidelines in fact suggest a careful analysis of the benefits and risks for each individual patient, and in principle a greater benefit in patients under 60 years and in menopause for less than 10, in the absence of their own pathology that are related. to an increase in hormonal stimulation or an increased thrombotic risk or cardiovascular disease in general.
Natural supplements: do they work?
For many years, active ingredients of natural origin have been sought: phytoestrogens, red clover, black cohosh, resveratrol, pollen extract, sage, substances capable of mimicking the action of some neurotransmitters in our brain such as GABA. But at the moment the effectiveness of these preparations appears to be lower and above all, it often requires gods action times definitely long going 4 to 8 weeks.
When the hot flashes “start”
The discovery of the true mechanism that leads to the onset of hot flashes and of which substances are involved is also recent. Today we know that hot flashes are the result of significant changes in the neuroendocrine circuit which controls the reproductive hormone axis during menopause. There reduced estrogen secretion leads to an increase in the secretion of some gonadotropins and increases the expression of some neuroproteins such as Neurokinin B which interacts through specific receptors with the infundibular nucleus of the Hypothalamus where our thermoregulator center. It is precisely in the control of the interaction of Neurokinin B and its receptor that the new drugs for the control of hot flashes act, but at the moment they are not yet commercially available, but are still being tested.
SOS what to do
What to do then when the temperature rises and especially how this summer reaches temperatures that bring the thermoregulatory system is in crisislet alone women with hot flashes. First of all, it is also important in this case to have an adequate lifestyle.
- We have all learned to defend ourselves from high temperatures by learning to dress appropriately: we choose natural fibers that allow a more adequate transpiration.
- Beware of thermal changes especially when we enter air-conditioned environments often with much lower temperatures than outside.
- Sweating determines the loss of many mineral salts that are good to reintroduce both with the diet, therefore eating lots of fruits and vegetables
- Also useful supplements based on electrolytes such as potassium, sodium and magnesium.
- It is important then replenish fluids, especially water which we must always have with us especially if we plan to stay a long time under the sun.
- We hold always covered the head so you don’t run the risk of heatstroke
- Contact your gynecologist to find the right therapy for each case
- Acupuncture can improve hot flashes and as many studies have indicated also one regular physical activity (especially if accompanied by relaxation and self-control activities such as Yoga) can be helpful.
Source: Modes M. Neuroendocrinology 2019
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