If you are experiencing a medical emergency CALL 911 or report to your nearest EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT!
NO SCHEDULED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES PRESCRIPTIONS (for Mental Health and Pain Management)
A hot flash is the sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body, which is usually most intense over the face, neck and chest. Your skin might redden, as if you're blushing. A hot flash can also cause sweating. If you lose too much body heat, you might feel chilled afterward. Night sweats are hot flashes that happen at night, and they may disrupt your sleep.
​
Although other medical conditions can cause them, hot flashes most commonly are due to menopause — the time when menstrual periods become irregular and eventually stop. In fact, hot flashes are the most common symptom of the menopausal transition.
Common Symptoms
-
A sudden feeling of warmth spreading through your chest, neck and face
-
A flushed appearance with red, blotchy skin
-
Rapid heartbeat
-
Perspiration, mostly on your upper body
-
A chilled feeling as the hot flash lets up
-
Feelings of anxiety
Causes
Hot flashes are most commonly caused by changing hormone levels before, during and after menopause. It's not clear exactly how hormonal changes cause hot flashes. But most research suggests that hot flashes occur when decreased estrogen levels cause your body's thermostat (hypothalamus) to become more sensitive to slight changes in body temperature. When the hypothalamus thinks your body is too warm, it starts a chain of events — a hot flash — to cool you down.
​