This article will discuss hot flashes before your period, symptoms, causes, management, and more.
Verywell / Shideh Ghandeharizadeh
What Causes Hot Flashes Before a Period?
It may be an overreaction of the body to a slight increase in your body temperature.
Verywell / Shideh Ghandeharizadeh
The medical term for hot flashes is “vasomotorsymptoms.”
Do Hot Flashes Mean Menopause?
Other Causes of Hot Flashes
The medical community continues to learn more about hormones and hot flashes.
Hormone cycles are very complex and studied by special doctors calledendocrinologists.
There are ongoing studies looking at other hormones and signaling chemicals within the body.
Generally, hot flashes during your period last from half a minute to several minutes.
Some people have hot flashes only once a day, and some have them much more often.
How to Manage Hot Flashes
Hot flashes can be uncomfortable, but they are generally not dangerous.
Staying cool may help you reduce how many hot flashes you have.
When a hot flash happens, venture to cool your body down.
You may then be able to reduce or eliminate these to improve your symptoms.
If you are overweight or obese, it can be more common to have hot flashes.
Other research shows that maintaining a healthy weight can reduce hormonal hot flashes.
Alternative Treatments
Researchers continue to study alternative treatments to reduce or manage hot flashes.
Unfortunately, there are no therapies that are consistently effective in the research.
Conditions can often be diagnosed by a healthcare provider based on period changes and blood tests.
Imaging or other tests may be recommended in some cases.
Good communication with your healthcare team is the best way to address any concerns you may have.
Hot flashes are usually not medically concerning, but discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider.
If neededand if the benefits outweigh the riskshormone treatment is an option.
In most cases, night sweats are hot flashes that happen at night.
Usually, these are annoying, but not dangerous.
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