What are Hot Flashes?

Vasomotor symptoms, or better known as hot flashes, hot flushes and night sweats, are the second most common symptom of perimenopause, following irregular menstruation.

Hot flashes are one of those things that everyone experiences differently. On average, most women can have hot flashes for 6 months to 2 years, though they may last even longer. On average, they last from 1- 5 minutes showing themselves every couple days or every couple hours.

Menopause isn't the only reason you can experience hot flashes. Check out our article on what else can contribute to them here.

So what happens during a hot flash?

It's like a sudden wave of heat that quickly spreads throughout your body, that may cause sweating and discomfort for a few minutes, that can feel like an eternity.

With your temperature rising so quickly, it will easily consume these minutes, not allowing you to focus on other important things. Once the hot flash passes, it may take up to 30 minutes to fully return to normal temperature. 

No matter how few or often you experience hot flashes, they can really affect your quality of life.

Hot flashes do not wait until it's convenient for you. They can spark at random, and it can be frustrating to try and handle them when you're at work, travelling or trying to get a good nights sleep.

Do you have hot flashes? How often do you have to deal with them? Share your experiences below!