Do hot flashes raise your body temperature?

Jamie, 51,  checked in with us this week: 

“My hot flashes in menopause feel like they’ve gone from “bake at 350” to “broil at 500”. They’re hotter. Flaming hot… Lava-hot…  Sweat-trickling hot. Been experiencing what I thought of as 'hot' for 2 years now. And lately, something inside has really cranked up the internal temperatures… or, so it feels.

“I’m awake 2-3 times each night, thrashing in sweaty clothes and sheets. It’s disgusting. And then I get chilled just a few minutes later, so I’m looking for the blankets I’ve thrown off, which wakes me up even more… cue the irritability. 

“With all this heat, I’d hoped that at least some calories would get burned and I’d be losing some weight. Mmmmm… no. Definitely not the case.”  I need help beating hot flashes...

What Jamie mentioned about her temperatures rising... ahem, sparked… a curiosity about heat that led us to research do hot flashes raise your temperature.

Does your temperature rise when you have a hot flash? Here’s what we found 

In the National Library of Medicine, body temperatures were measured before, during, and after hot flashes in a menopausal woman. It was surprising to us that the findings shared that internal body temperatures actually fell after each hot flash. 

“Where sweating occurred, the skin temperature fell during the flash and rose after it. Finger and toe temperatures always showed a sharp rise at the onset of a flash with a slower fall after the flash. Only the cheeks showed additional temperature rises; maximum, 0.7 degrees C.” 

Speeding beats

Another element that was measured was the heartbeat. Is anyone going to be surprised at its acceleration during a hot flash

“The heart accelerated 13% at the onset of the flash but slowed immediately thereafter. The flash interval was sharply demarcated by undulations in the ECG baseline.”

At the core

Another study shared that core body temperature is lower in post-menopausal women than pre-menopausal women. It went on to note that this finding has potential implications for energy metabolism and midlife weight gain. 

Despite all the heat and sweating we may be experiencing during menopause, our core body temperatures are decreasing as we age. Fascinating!... And it sure doesn’t feel like that mid-flash, does it?

Stress: A catalyst for hotter hot flashes?

Stress may indeed be an instigator for more and hotter flashes in some women. It’s also what we do with increased, complex, or compounded stressors that may amp up hot flash temperatures and/or the number of hot flashes that happen in a day (or night). Namely, consumables such as caffeine, alcohol, and sugar… all known to affect hot flashes. 

Smoking is a behavior that increases the risk for hot flashes. And, a sedentary lifestyle without much movement. 

What else is going on lately in your life? Whatever the stressors, they may be impacting your menopause journey, not to mention your immune system. What are those other pre-existing stressors you’ve been experiencing, specifically? Take a deep breath, you’ve been going through a lot. 

Overall health and wellness during menopause is based in good self-care

What helps? According to the same study noted above, dabbing areas of the face with cold water can provide prompt relief. It seems an easy one, as long as you’ve got cold water close at hand. Could it feel different or better than a handheld mister or handheld fan? Test drive it and see what works best, feels best, for you.

Additional areas that help decrease menopause symptoms, especially hot flashes, are: 

• Nutrition in food: Aiming to get as much functional nutrition in the fuel of your food is ideal. It’s not all about perfection, or all about kale, or all about the next food trend. Take special care around sugar, caffeine, and alcohol as those can tend to increase the frequency and intensity of hot flashes. Eat more of these foods that help with hot flashes to decrease the symptoms. Overall, it’s about good fuel and feeling good. Take a look at these on-demand webinars/podcasts for ideas: this one with Dr. Ericka De Law Vella, and this one.
• Supplementation: Black Cohosh for menopause works for many women in managing hot flashes. Magnesium Glycinate is also another good one, especially to aid sleep and ease joint pain. Plus, this new daily five: Gennev’s Vitamins For Menopause Vitality pack was created for the new nutritional needs of women in menopause and midlife. Check-in with your doctor, or one of ours via telemedicine, about your current diet and what may help you.
• Water, water: Did you know that we’re more easily dehydrated during menopause than we were before? It’s true. staying hydrated during menopause is more important than ever for skin, organ and cell function, mood, and hot flash management.
• Movement: Exploring how you can move your body, all the muscles, even a little bit will help you physically, and mentally. Consider it a break, a treat, a reward, and try something new. Our Coach Stasi shares on Instagram and YouTube about this topic. 
• Skip the smokes: If hot flashes are giving you grief and you’re a smoker, consider talking with others who’ve quit about their experience regarding menopause symptoms since putting down the smokes. Try it yourself, for your best health and meno-management. Estrogen and smoking puts women at risk to more likely to experience hot flashes than those who don’t.
• Decrease stress: This is a big one, and yes, it’s a general tip, but the way you decrease stress in menopause for yourself is very personal. Someone may decrease stress by meditating or yoga, another may run, another may wander through a park or on a hike, another may knit or create or write. Even incremental decreases in stress as you continue to find out what works best for you will help in managing  all of your menopause symptoms.
  On this note, a study shared that de-stressing may ease hot flash symptoms in some women. 
• Seek support: Whether it’s medical or coaching or another form of health support, more of it will help you to find practical solutions that work for your body and mind, your schedule, your family… your best, whole life.

Want to try HRT for hot flashes? Or the new FDA approved non-hormonal medication Veozah? Both are effective alternatives for relieving hot flashes.. A Gennev menopause-certified gynecologist can give you a trusted opinion, determine if medication is right for you, and they can provide prescription support. Book an appointment with a doctor here.

Finding out what works for you, your body, your life is what really matters most here. Hot flashes, and other symptoms of menopause, can be managed with care and attention… and of course, you’re worth the excellent care you need during this transformative journey.

The information on the Gennev site is never meant to replace the care of a qualified medical professional.  Hormonal shifts throughout menopause can prompt a lot of changes in your body, and simply assuming something is “just menopause” can leave you vulnerable to other possible causes. Always consult with your physician or schedule an appointment with one of Gennev's telemedicine doctors before beginning any new treatment or therapy.

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