Page 23 - Florida Sentinel 3-12-21

Health
What Are Hot Flashes?
Though scientists don’t know the exact cause, they suspect a drop in estrogen may disrupt the body’s natural thermostat, resulting in a hot flash. Hot flashes can vary dramatically from woman to woman. A single occurrence can be a few seconds or several minutes. Some women experience merely a flushed face, while others may sweat severely and even suffer from heart palpitations and chills. Hot flashes generally last for about 3 to 5 years, before finally tapering off.
A Healthy Lifestyle.
Lifestyle measures can make a big difference too: Regular exercise and a healthy weight have been shown to reduce flashes, as can avoiding triggers like heat, spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, and smoking.
Evening Primrose Oil. A general tonic for women’s repro- ductive health, evening primrose has a cooling effect on the skin and regulates the production of estro- gen. It can act as a sleep aid due to its high gamma-linolenic acid count, and increased prostaglandin production.
Flaxseed Oil. Fatty acids, such as those found in flaxseed oil, have been thought to be effective in reducing menopausal symp- toms. Flax contains plant lignans that are similar to estrogen, possi- bly causing estrogen levels to sta- bilize in menopausal women.
Ginseng. Panax ginseng or Panax quinquefolius Research has shown that ginseng may help with some menopausal symptoms, such as mood symptoms and sleep disturbances, and with one’s over- all sense of well-being. However, it has not been found to be helpful for hot flashes.
Herbal Therapy. Certain herbs and botanicals have dif- ferent reputations for effectively fighting many different effects of menopause, particularly hot flashes.
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