Are Hot Flashes Bad for Your Health?
This common side effect of menopause may be more than just a minor annoyance. Here's why.
Hot flashes. They are one of the most common – and notorious – symptoms of menopause.
You may think of them as just an annoyance or something you have to endure as your body goes through menopause. But have you ever given any thought to what happens to your body when you have a hot flash, especially when you're trying to sleep at night?
During a hot flash, you experience a rush of adrenaline, followed by an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Hot flashes often occur at night, and the corresponding changes in your heart rate and blood pressure that occur when they do can make it very difficult for you to return to a restful sleep.
If hot flashes occur night after night, or at the very least, a few times a week, they can continuously disrupt your sleep. And by disrupting your sleep, they can be damaging your overall health. Long-term sleep deprivation can lead to a range of health issues, including exhaustion, weight gain, problems with concentration and even cardiac issues.
So if you experience hot flashes that are regularly disrupting your sleep, talk to your doctor. There are solutions that may help.
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Date Last Reviewed: December 12, 2019
Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor
Medical Review: Cinde Ordelheide, NP
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