The dreaded hot flash—a sudden rush of incapacitating heat in the upper body, especially to the chest, neck, and face—sometimes accompanied by anxiety and rapid heartbeat. Hot flashes are an intense sensation that many women who are transitioning into menopause experience.
Any woman who has experienced a hot flash, or its “cousin,” night sweats, knows it is an unpleasant sensation. However, they may not have understood what is behind these bursts of intense heat, and neither did scientists.
Hot Flashes—It’s All in Your Head
Hot flashes and night sweats are associated with perimenopause and menopause. Although hot flashes and night sweats are linked with decreased estrogen in a woman’s body, the exact cause driving hot flashes is still unknown….