But when a woman gets a sensation out of the blue that feels like the body’s thermostat has suddenly been turned up high and lasts for several minutes – well, that sensation is known as a hot flash, and it’s one of the most important moments in a woman’s life.
Hot flashes are a symptom of menopause, the condition that indicates a woman's fertile period of life is ending. The hot flash is described as a feeling of warmth that spreads over the body, lasting anywhere from seconds to several minutes.
The symptom can arrive during perimenopause (the early stage of the menopausal transition), during menopause or even in postmenopause circumstances. It is estimated that about 70 percent of women experience hot flashes.
Despite the obvious connection to aging and menopause, not every hot flash is caused by menopausal hormone changes. While women are the primary targets, men can experience something akin to a hot flash, which points out that the thermal regulation unit in the human body is subject to change and stresses that are not totally reliant on the menopausal process.
Surprising Causes of Hot Flashes
Here are some other possibilities that may cause a condition similar to hot flashes: