Hot Flash! - The infamously unpleasant symptom of Menopause

When a woman reaches her midlife - her late forties, early fifties - she begins to experience some of the unpleasant symptoms associated with the age. Hot flashes and night sweats are the most common, characteristic of the female mid-life condition as they are primarily caused by the changing hormone levels inherent to menopause.
 
A hot flash, AKA "hot flush",  is the sudden and unsettling onset of a sensation of heat that may be accompanied by a red, flushed face, sweating and/or temporary loss of breath. In many cases, dizziness and light headeness have been reported. Additionally, a rapid heart rate or chills may accompany the experiences.

Though the exact cause of hot flashes is unknown, it it believed to be related to changes in circulation. Hot flashes occur when the blood vessels near the skin's surface dilate to reduce heat. This produces the red, flushed look of the face. Perspiration may naturally occur in an effort to cool the body.  Appropriately, hot flashes at night are called “night sweats” and are known to disrupt the peace of sleep.

The severity and duration of hot flashes varies among the individual women going through menopause. Some will experience hot flashes for only a brief period during menopause. Others may have degrees of hot flashes for the rest of their lives. Generally, hot flashes tend to become less severe with time.

In an attempt to prevent hot flashes, one should avoid stress, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, heat, and cigarette smoke/smoking. Health care experts believe that herbs such as Black Cohosh and Dong Qui contain natural phyto-compounds that can effectively mimic estrogen in the human body, producing hormones to regulate body temperature and provide relief from hot flashes. Both herbs are essential to one of the most popular all-natural hot flash remedies, the Natural Hot Flashes Relief Solution.