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Hot Flushes and Night Sweats
Key Points
- Most women experience hot flushes during the transition through menopause.
- Women who are underweight or who have experienced an abrupt loss of ovarian oestrogen are more likely to be troubled by their symptoms.
- Oestrogen replacement therapy is the most effective treatment currently available for controlling hot flushes.
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Practical measures are designed to help menopausal women who do not wish to take oestrogen cope with their hot flushes.
Practical Advice for Women on How to Cope with Hot Flushes
- Wear loose clothing made of natural fibres (e.g. cotton, wool, silk).
- Dress in layers so that clothes can be removed and added as needed.
- Avoid spicy foods and hot beverages that 'trigger' flushes.
- Avoid stress which can aggravate hot flushes.
- Exercise regularly.
- Wash in cold water at the first sign of a hot flush.
- Keep an ice-cold drink ready by the bedside.
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