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Treatments

WHAT IS IT?
Many potential triggers for hots flashes and night sweats have been suggested. These include:

  • hot weather
  • alcohol
  • red wine
  • spicy foods
  • hot foods or liquids
  • caffeine
  • anxiety
  • stress

No scientific studies have looked at these potential triggers and whether avoiding them helps.

Exercise may trigger hot flashes, but does not increase the number of hot flashes women experience during the day.

OUR BOTTOM LINE, DOES IT HELP?
DON’T KNOW.  We really don’t know how well avoiding triggers works, because no one has studied this approach. There is no evidence one way or another but if you feel like experimenting, see what works for you.

MAY HELP FOR THIS SYMPTOM

common-hot-flashes

HOT FLASHES AND NIGHT SWEATS

POTENTIAL RISKS & SIDE EFFECTS

None

QUALITY OF LIFE EXPECTATIONS

None

IF I WANT TO TRY THIS TREATMENT, WHAT ARE MY NEXT STEPS?

  1. Try tracking your hot flashes or interrupted sleep, and note potential triggers. You can download one of our diary templates (hot flashes, National Sleep Foundation Sleep Diary), track on your phone, or make our own.
  2. If you find something is regularly triggering your symptoms, do your best to avoid it and see if that helps.

NOT STUDIED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

  • Hot flashes
  • Sleep problems / Insomnia

NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

  • Mood, depression, anxiety
  • Pain during sex
  • Vaginal pain, not during sex
  • Low sex drive
  • Heavy, irregular periods
  • Physical aches & pains
  • Dry hair & skin
  • Bladder control problems
  • Brain fog / cognitive issues
  • Palpitations
  • Weight gain
REFERENCES

Freeman, E.W. and Sammel, M.D.2016. Anxiety as a risk factor for menopausal hot flashes: Evidence from the Penn Ovarian Aging Cohort. Menopause, 23(9), 942-949.  doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000662.

Guthrie JR, Dennerstein L, Hopper JL, Burger HG. Hot flushes, menstrual status, and hormone levels in a population-based sample of midlife women. Obstet Gynecol 1996;88:437-442.

Authors: Dr. Katherine Newton & Dr. Leslie Snyder. Last reviewed: April, 2021.

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