A Guide to PMS Hot Flashes: Keep Your Cool
Do you ever suddenly feel hot and red with sweat pouring down your face and neck a few days before your period?
If so, you may have PMS hot flashes.
According to Hopkins Medicine, up to 75% of women experience this brief, sudden, and intense rise in their body temperature.
But, it is important to realize that these bouts of hot flashes could also indicate other conditions.
After reading this article, you will have an understanding of hot flash symptoms, causes, and treatment options to manage this aspect of your reproductive health.
We will also see what other conditions could be causing your hot flashes.
Symptoms of hot flashes
Hot flashes refer to a sudden feeling of warmth in the body, especially over the face, neck, and chest.
They can last for anywhere between a few seconds to several minutes.
Symptoms related to hot flashes include:
- Warm body temperature
- Excessive sweating
- Increased heart rate
- Flushed skin
- Chills
What causes hot flashes before the period
Hot flashes mostly occur due to hormonal changes in the body during the menstrual cycle.
The Progesterone levels increase when you ovulate around the 14th day of your cycle.
This can lead to a slight rise in the body temperature, which might often go unnoticed.
As your Progesterone levels rise, the Estrogen levels fall.
This affects the functioning of the Hypothalamus gland, which is responsible for keeping your body temperature in check.
The brain releases Norepinephrine and some other hormones in response to low levels of Estrogen.
This may make your body even more sensitive to changes in body temperature.
Consequently, it could transmit signals to the body to sweat in order to regulate temperature, despite the lack of an actual need for such action.
What else could it be
In some instances, what you consider PMS hot flashes could be an indication of some other medical issue.
Possible causes of hot flashes include:
- Menopause/ Perimenopause
- Thyroid conditions
- Low testosterone
- Tumor
- Alcohol/ caffeine/ hot drinks
- Spicy foods
- Cancer or cancer treatment
- Pregnancy, especially the first and second trimesters
Apart from this, stress and anxiety can also induce symptoms resembling hot flashes.
Additionally, your hot flashes could be a sign of certain medications you might be taking, like:
- Cancer treatment medications
- Raloxifene
- Antidepressants
- Calcium Channel Blockers
- Clomiphene
- Serotonin uptake inhibitors
Management tips
Hot flashes may be extremely uncomfortable, but there are ways you can manage them on your own through some lifestyle changes.
These include the following:
Watch what you eat
Cut back on alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, chocolate, aged cheese, etc.
They might trigger hot flashes or make them worse.
Wear layers
Since slight changes in body temperature can trigger your hot flashes, dressing in layers is a smart way to avoid them.
This allows you to remove the layers when you feel warm and help regulate your body temperature.
Also, choose breathable and lightweight fabrics, such as cotton and linen.
Practice mind-body therapies
Some women experience relief from mild hot flashes by doing mind-body therapies like meditation, slow and deep breathing, yoga, etc.
Even if these techniques don’t help with your hot flashes, they might help reduce sleep issues common during menopause.
Quit smoking
Try quitting smoking as it may increase hot flashes or their severity.
Not smoking will also reduce your risk of various other health-related issues.
Lose weight
Being overweight might contribute to hot flashes, and losing weight might ease them.
Keep cool
Opening the windows or cranking up the fan or air conditioner might help reduce the chances of an upcoming hot flash.
You can also sip on cold drinks and use a cold towel, washcloth, or a cold compress around your face and neck whenever you have a hot flash.
Treatment options
Doctors often prescribe hormone therapy and low-dose antidepressants to treat hot flashes.
In fact, Paroxetine is the only FDA-approved non-hormonal therapy for hot flashes.
Other prescription medications include:
- Gabapentin
- Pregabalin
- Oxybutynin
- Clonidine
Takeaway
Though hot flashes are a typical sign of menopause or perimenopause, they could also be seen as a symptom of PMS.
They are typically characterized by sudden and intense feelings of sweating, heat, and flushing of the skin.
Hormonal changes in the body are assumed to cause these hot flashes, but the exact way it causes them is still unclear.
However, many treatment options are available to manage and treat these hot flashes.
Medical treatment includes hormone replacement therapy and low-dose antidepressants.
Certain lifestyle changes, like regular exercise, stress reduction techniques, seeing what you eat and drink, quitting smoking, etc., can also help reduce the severity of those hot flashes.
It is advisable to consult a doctor to understand the best treatment plan for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are hot flashes PMS symptoms?
Yes, hot flashes could be a PMS symptom. But it might indicate the presence of some other condition as well, like menopause, thyroid conditions, spicy foods, alcohol, smoking, etc. some medications might also trigger hot flashes, including Cancer treatment medications, Antidepressants, Calcium Channel Blockers, Clomiphene, etc.
Are hot flashes an early pregnancy symptom?
Yes, hot flashes may be a pregnancy symptom, particularly in the first and second trimesters. But they are more commonly associated with menopause or perimenopause when hormonal changes are more significant. Other early pregnancy symptoms may include fatigue, nausea, breast tenderness, and a missed period.
What does a hormonal hot flash feel like?
A hormonal hot flash is often described as a sudden feeling of heat or warmth that spreads throughout the body, typically starting in the face, neck, and chest area. This is accompanied by sweating, flushing of the skin, and a rapid heartbeat. Some women also report feeling dizzy or lightheaded during a hot flash.
Are hot flashes common during PMS?
For some people, hot flashes could be a normal PMS symptom. PMS hot flashes can be characterized by sudden feelings of sweating, heat, and flushing of the skin. They are thought to be related to hormonal changes in the body and can be managed through lifestyle changes and/or medication.
Are hot flashes before period perimenopause?
Hot flashes before periods could be a sign of perimenopause, which is the transitional phase before menopause. Other symptoms include mood swings, anxiety, brain fog, and irregular periods. These symptoms might start years before your periods stop and continue afterward as well.
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