Other symptoms include sweating, reddening of the skin, headaches, lightheadedness, andheart palpitations.
Even males with low testosterone can experience hot flashes.
This article discusses the various causes of hot flashes, why they happen, and how they are treated.
dragana991 / Getty Images
dragana991 / Getty Images
Menopause
Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause.
Hot flashes during menopause are due to a decrease in the hormone estrogen.
The sudden flush of heat usually starts in the face or chest and can spread throughout the entire body.
Episodes can last anywhere from a few seconds to up to 30 minutes.
Hot flashes tend to start abruptly and end just as quickly.
When hot flashes occur at night, they are commonly referred to asnight sweats.
Hormone blockers are medications that suppress estrogen to halt puberty.
The steep drop in estrogen can trigger vasomotor symptoms in the same way as menopause.
Some drugs directly affect the balance of estrogen in the body.
Others interfere with a system known as thehypothalamuspituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis.
The HPA axis coordinates communications between the hypothalamus and the hormone-producingpituitary glandandadrenal glands.
This includes your body temperature.
If the chemical messages are in any way disrupted, vasomotor symptoms can occur.
Can Younger Females Get Hot Flashes?
Hyperthyroidism is most common in people in their 30s or 40s.
This is because hypogonadism can lead to estrogen deficiency.
Under normal circumstances, a small proportion of testosterone in the body is converted into estrogen.
If testosterone levels are low, estrogen levels can also drop.
If estrogen levels are exceptionally low, hot flashes can occur.
This is common in people who have panic attacks orpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These and other physiological responses can cause the body to spontaneously overheat, leading to hot flashes.
A common symptom of carcinoid syndrome is flushing, mainly affecting the face, neck, or upper chest.
Flushing with carcinoid syndrome happens when excessive amounts of the hormoneserotoninare released.
Infection
Any infection that causes a fever can trigger hot flashes.
The bodys temperature can rise as it tries to kill off a viral or bacterial infection.
Sometimes, these conditions can interfere with theautonomic nervous system, which helps keep the bodys temperature in check.
For example, people withmigrainesoften experience a feeling of extreme, sudden heat with sweating during the migraine attack.
Diet
Your diet also has the potential to cause hot flashes.
Alcoholic beverages can cause an abnormal response in some people that leads to blood vessel dilation and facial flushing.
The response is thought to be related to a nitrite intolerance rather than a nitrite allergy.
Rosacea tends to start in childhood as common facial flushing, often in response to stress.
How Are Hot Flashes Treated?
The treatment will vary based on the underlying cause.
Study results vary, with some people responding better to the nerve block than others.
The abrupt change in any habit may also trigger vasomotor symptoms.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
There are many different reasons for experiencing hot flashes.
While most of them are not serious, you do need to know what is causing them.
If youre having trouble narrowing the cause, try keeping track of the episodes.
In time, you and your healthcare provider may be able to pinpoint the problem.
Treatments including hormone replacement therapy or the FDA-approved drug Brisdelle (paroxetine) may help.
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American Academy of Dermatology.How to prevent rosacea flare-ups.
National institute on Aging.Hot flashes: what can I do?.
Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves novel drug to treat moderate to severe hot flashes triggered by menopause.
