Most women will experience hot flushes when going through menopause.
Some women get them more than others. Sometimes they can be severe. It's different for everyone. But they are usually harmless.
Hot flushes can start a few months or years before your periods stop. They usually continue for several years after your last period.
Causes of hot flushes
Hot flushes may be caused by changes in your hormone levels. This affects your body's temperature.
They can happen without warning throughout the day and night.
They can also be caused by:
- eating spicy foods
- caffeine and alcohol
- smoking
- wearing thick clothing
- a high temperature (38 degrees Celsius or higher)
- feeling stressed or anxious
- treatment for certain types of cancer
- certain medicines
- some health conditions, such as tuberculosis, an overactive thyroid and diabetes
Symptoms of hot flushes
A hot flush may feel like:
- a creeping feeling of heat that spreads through your body and face
- being out in the hot sun
- being in a furnace or very hot room
It lasts several minutes.
If you’re having a hot flush, you may also experience:
- flushing across your face
- sweating
- palpitations (when your heart feels like it's pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly)
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if you:
- feel generally unwell
- are fatigued
- feel weak
- lose weight without trying to
- have diarrhoea
Tips for reducing hot flushes
There are things you can try to ease your hot flushes.
Do
-
avoid triggers, such as caffeine, smoking, alcohol or eating spicy foods
-
keep your room cool - use a fan if necessary
-
spray your face with cool water or use a cold gel pack
-
wear loose layers of light cotton or silk clothes so you can easily take some clothes off if you get too hot
-
sip cold or iced drinks
-
take a lukewarm shower or bath instead of a hot one
-
have layers of sheets on the bed, rather than a duvet, so you can remove them as you need to
If you think medicine is causing your hot flushes, talk to your GP. They may advise you about other options to help avoid this side effect.
Treatments for hot flushes
If hot flushes are bothering you, talk to your GP about treatments that may help.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most effective treatment for hot flushes. Your GP will talk to you about the benefits and risks of using HRT.
Your GP will talk to you about alternative treatments if you cannot use HRT. For example, if you have had a type of cancer that's sensitive to hormones, such as breast cancer.
Other medicines that can help include:
- some antidepressants
- a medicine called clonidine
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
