What Are Common Causes of Hot Flashes After Menopause?
Many women experience hot flashes during menopause, but hot flashes also can continue for several years after menopause is over. Changes in hormone levels and proteins released by osteoporosis are believed to be two causes of hot flashes after menopause. Stress, smoking and frequent alcohol consumption can worsen the symptoms of hot flashes after menopause. Menopause usually occurs when the woman is between ages 45 and 55. During this time, hot flashes begin, estrogen and progesterone are produced less frequently, and menstruation slows down before stopping altogether. When a woman has not had a menstrual period for one year, she is considered to be in the post-menopause phase. Hot flashes are defined as an intense and sudden feeling of warmth in the face and neck area or all over the body. Other symptoms can include nausea, anxiety, dizziness, a rapid heartbeat and headaches. Some women might feel a strange sense of foreboding before a hot flash strikes.
