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Treatment for Hot Flashes – 3 of the Options You Have in Relieving This Menopausal Symptom

Looking for the right treatment for hot flashes? Well there are various alternatives to choose from. Some of you may not know it but even products sold in the market in the form of natural menopause relief can solve your plight. Learn more about other sets of alternative treatment for menopause.

Most women complain about hot flashes during their menopausal stages. Hot flash or hot flush as it is often called can be accompanied by a blushing or red-flushed face. The heat can affect other parts of the body although it can be more intense around the head and neck areas. The sensation can last in between half a minute to several minutes. Improper air circulation during menopause can result to hot flashes.

Menopausal Symptom

Menopausal Symptom

Statistics on Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are experienced by 40 percent of women who are in their 40′s. This means that it can occur even before menopause begins (menopausal symptoms manifest in between 45 and 55 years of age). Some women can experience such signs within 5 years while others may take as long as 10 years. Since this is often accompanied by or linked with night sweats, the condition may intervene with sleep.

First Treatment for Hot Flashes – Prevention through Lifestyle Changes

Hot flashes can be prevented thru avoiding stress. But of course, it can also be prevented through reducing intake of caffeine, spicy foods and alcohol. Smoking and wearing of tight clothing should also be avoided.

To prevent hot flashes, you may wear a cotton dress. Control the temperature in your room as well. Abdominal breathing – those that are deep and slow – can also help. Do this every time you wake up in the morning and before you sleep at night. Make 6 to 8 breaths per minute for 15 minutes. Try to exercise daily. Simple walking, bicycling, running and dancing can make a big difference in your condition.

Second Treatment for Hot Flashes – Hormonal Replacement Therapy

Hot flashes were traditionally treated by way of estrogen in transdermal forms. Here is where the Hormone Therapy (HT) or Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) enters the scene. This alternative treatment for menopause and hot flashes consists of estrogens or a combination of both estrogen and progesterone. HT is available in both oral and transdermal forms and is effective in reducing the frequency of hot flashes for about 80 to 90 percent of women having menopausal problems.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is said to help prevent hot flashes. It can also help reduce other symptoms linked to menopause such as mood swing and vaginal dryness. The problem however is it can cause side effects. Blood clots and gallbladder inflammation are just but a few of the negative reactions with the therapy.

Third Treatment for Hot Flashes – Non-Prescription and Prescription Treatments

Vitamin B complex, vitamin E and Ibuprofen are some of the nonprescription treatments to consider for hot flashes. Treatments that need prescription from the doctor are: Catapres, Catapres-TTS and Aldomet for blood pressure medications; birth control pills; Antidepressants such as Paxil, Effexor and Zoloft; other hormones like Provera and Megace; and Neurontin, an anti-seizure drug.

It was found out that women who receive combined therapy of both estrogen and progesterone had a risk of heart attack, stroke and breast cancer. This is in comparison with those who had never had HT at all. Taking estrogen therapy alone without progesterone presupposes the risk of stroke but not heart attack nor breast cancer. However it affects the lining of the uterus which can later on result to cancer. The patient and the doctor should talk about the risks of this treatment before continuing it. However it is advisable to have the least effective dose for the shortest possible treatment.

Non estrogen drugs may not be as effective as estrogen. But according to studies made they yield 70% of the effectiveness of estrogen therapy in treating hot flashes. The following are some non-estrogen drugs.

  1. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s). Venlafaxine is a tested SSRI that is effective in decreasing hot flashes. Drugs such as paroxetine and fluoxetine on the other hand, are used to control hot flashes.
  2. 2. Clonidine. This is in the form of pill or patch. It is said to be an effective relief for hot flashes to some menopausal women but not to others.
  3. Megestrol acetate (Megace). This is a type of progesterone which is effective in relieving hot flashes but should be taken for a short time only. Megestrol can cause weight gain to its users.

If you want a safer yet an effective treatment for hot flashes, you may consider taking in Amberen. This herbal menopause relief can be of great help not only in reducing hot flashes. It can also alleviate other symptoms related to menopause. You can trust this product as it contains the best ingredients in a natural menopause relief product.

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