Menopause can cause an array of discomfort for any woman experiencing it. One of the most common and uncomfortable symptoms of menopause is hot flashes.

Hot flashes are extremely common and can occur at any time. They affect more than 50% of all women during menopause.

For some women, lifestyle changes are enough to bring hot flashes under control. For others, medicines or dietary supplements seem to help. Learn more about what you can do to manage your hot flashes, as well as benefits and drawbacks to some common remedies.

Hot flashes can produce a number of affects such as:

- A feeling that ranges from mild warmth to intense heat that spreads through the upper body and up to the face.

- A flushed appearance consisting sometimes of red, blotchy skin on your face, neck and upper chest

- A rapid heartbeat

- Perspiration

- A chilled feeling as the hot flash subsides

Hot flashes can range from lasting 30 seconds to as long as 30 minutes, but most subside within a few minutes. The occurrence and frequency of hot flashes varies greatly. While one person can experience them every hour, another can have them only on occasion. Often called night sweats, nighttime hot flashes can wake you from a sound sleep. Some women have reported experiencing hot flashes for a year or more during menopause.

Your doctor (who’s job is to fatten the purse of the big drug companies), will probably send you to your local pharmacy with a prescription for Venlafaxine (Effexor XR), Gabapentin (Neurontin) or Clonidine. But guess what? 1.) none of these drugs have been approved by the FDA for treating hot flashes. 2.) Every one of them was actually designed to treat something completely different than hot flashes. Instead of filling your body with chemicals that are actually meant to treat something different but may work, try a more natural approach.

For starters, try making some simple lifestyle changes. For example, dress in layers so that you can remove clothing when you feel too warm. Open up a window or turn on your fan or air conditioner to keep air flowing through a room. A cold drink of pure water will never hurt anyone either.

Next become a little more active. Daily exercise plays an important role during the menopausal years. If exercise is not currently part of you daily regimen, now is the time to make a change. Increasing your physical activity and adding regular aerobic exercise will bring forth great results. One of my favorite exercises is power walking for about 30 minutes, 4 times a week. I think you’ll find it fun as well.

According to Brenda Beely, a licensed acupuncturist and director of Menopause and PMS Options for Women in Washington, Vitamin E can help control and even eliminate hot flashes. Beely recommends taking 400 to 1,200 International units (IU) of Vitamin E in divided doses four or five times daily. "Once your feeling well, you can gradually start reducing the dosage back to 400 IU," Beely says.

Remember to pay close attention to what you eat and drink. Hot flashes can easily be triggered by hot and spicy foods, caffeinated beverages and alcohol.

Bring it down a notch by relaxing. There are a number of options available to you such as meditation, relaxation exercises, stress-reduction techniques or yoga. Even if these approaches make your hot flashes diminish, they may provide other benefits.

Don't smoke. As if there weren’t enough reasons to not smoke, here’s one more. Research indicates smoking is linked to increased hot flashes.

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