Menopausal Mother

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The first time I experienced a hot flash, I ran over to check the thermostat, convinced that it

was broken or that someone had dialed up the heat to rival the sun's

temperature. But according to my house, the air conditioner was working just fine, sitting at a cool 74 degrees. 

The hot flashes started happening again more frequently over the next few days and began disturbing my sleep. I woke several times a night on bedsheets that were soaked with sweat.

The internal flashes of heat were so intense that it felt like I was sleeping

over a BBQ grill, the flame roasting me to a nice medium-rare each evening.

At 50 years old, I still had my period but noticed that my cycle had become irregular. I blamed it on my recent weight gain and just shrugged it off. However, the symptoms didn't stop there; my family noticed that I was more irritable, moody, and exhausted from bouts of insomnia. A visit to my doctor quickly confirmed what I was reluctant to admit---that I was in the throes of menopause. 

According to The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), hot flashes are reported by as many as 75% of perimenopausal women in the U.S. The average length of these symptoms can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. For others, it is closer to 3-5 years, and in some cases, like mine, the hot flashes continued sporadically for 10 years or more.

My mother's generation seldom discussed "the change of life" due to the stigma surrounding

menopause, as if it were something to be ashamed of. It was a taboo subject and

considered improper for discussion, leaving most women on their own to deal

with the uncomfortable symptoms they were experiencing. Furthermore, society

has often looked upon this phase of woman's life as the end of their vibrancy, believing

that aging and menopause rendered them invisible. 

Thankfully, women today have broken through the stigma surrounding menopause and now have the freedom to candidly discuss their physical and emotional struggles. This openness has led to more scientific research and the discovery of solutions to help reduce the severity or even eliminate disruptive symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, weight gain, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, brain fog, anxiety, and depressed moods which have often been linked to menopause.

Hot flashes occur when blood vessels near the skin's surface expand to cool off. This creates a sudden burst of sweat which may be accompanied by a rapid heart rate and chills. When

hot flashes occur during sleep, they're called night sweats and very often

prevent women from getting a good night's rest.1 

Several things during menopause can trigger the onset of hot flashes, such as stress, heat, alcohol, smoking, caffeine, spicy foods, and tight clothing. But there are plenty of

non-surgical and non-prescription alternatives for combatting the intensity and

frequency of hot flashes. Regular exercise, change of diet, lightweight

clothing and natural supplements are often suitable preventative measures for

decreasing the unpleasant side effects of menopause.

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Rescources: 

1. https://www.webmd.com/menopause/guide/menopause-hot-flashes

2. https://hellobonafide.com/products/relizen