General
Hot flushes
Sudden waves of heat, flushing and sweating, often spreading over the face, neck and chest, that are most commonly part of the menopause but can also reflect an overactive thyroid, anxiety or, in men, low testosterone.
Education and reference only. This explains the common causes of hot flushes and the warning signs that need urgent help, in plain language — it is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a clinician. If you feel very unwell or are worried, seek medical help.
Quick answer
What is hot flushes?
A hot flush is a sudden, often intense sensation of heat that sweeps over the upper body, frequently with reddening of the skin, sweating and sometimes a pounding heart, before passing within a few minutes. When they happen at night and disturb sleep they are called night sweats.
- Get urgent help: Seek assessment for flushing with wheezing, swelling, diarrhoea or feeling faint, as rarely this signals something needing urgent attention. Seek assessment for drenching night sweats alongside unexplained weight loss or fever.
- Self-care: Several practical measures can ease hot flushes.
About hot flushes
A hot flush is a sudden, often intense sensation of heat that sweeps over the upper body, frequently with reddening of the skin, sweating and sometimes a pounding heart, before passing within a few minutes. When they happen at night and disturb sleep they are called night sweats. By far the commonest cause is the menopause, as falling hormone levels unsettle the body's temperature control, and similar flushing can affect men whose testosterone is low. Other causes include an overactive thyroid, which speeds the body up and produces heat intolerance and sweating, and anxiety, which can trigger flushing and a racing heart. Most flushing is benign and linked to one of these recognised causes, but drenching night sweats with weight loss or fever, or flushing with breathing or circulation symptoms, deserve assessment to make sure nothing else is going on.
When to get help
Call 999 or go to A&E if hot flushes comes with any of these warning signs:
- Seek assessment for flushing with wheezing, swelling, diarrhoea or feeling faint, as rarely this signals something needing urgent attention.
- Seek assessment for drenching night sweats alongside unexplained weight loss or fever.
- See a doctor for flushing with a fast or irregular heartbeat and weight loss, which can mean an overactive thyroid.
- See a doctor if hot flushes are severe, frequent or badly disrupting your sleep and daily life.
- Seek advice for hot flushes in men, or in women who are unusually young, so the cause can be confirmed.
When to see a doctor
Hot flushes around the menopause are very common and do not always need a doctor, but it is worth seeking help if they are frequent, severe, badly disrupting your sleep, or affecting your quality of life, as effective options exist. You should also see a doctor if flushing comes with other symptoms such as a fast or irregular heartbeat, weight loss, fever, or drenching night sweats, which point to a cause that needs investigating rather than simply being put down to the menopause. Hot flushes in men, or in much younger women, also warrant assessment.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
What can cause it
Common causes of hot flushes
Hot flushes has many possible causes. Each links to a full, plain-language guide to that condition — what it is, how it's treated and when to seek help.
What helps
Self-care and what you can do
Several practical measures can ease hot flushes. Dress in light layers you can remove quickly, keep your bedroom cool and use light bedding, and have a fan or a cool drink to hand. Try to identify and limit triggers such as spicy food, caffeine, alcohol, smoking and stress, all of which can set a flush off. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and relaxation techniques such as slow, paced breathing during a flush can all help reduce how often and how intensely they strike. Keeping a simple diary of when flushes happen and what preceded them can reveal a pattern you can then act on. If flushes are frequent and distressing, a clinician can discuss further options.
Answers
Hot flushes: frequently asked questions
Are hot flushes always due to the menopause?
No. The menopause is the commonest cause, but hot flushes can also come from an overactive thyroid, anxiety, certain medicines, and low testosterone in men. Flushing with weight loss, fever or a fast heartbeat should be assessed rather than assumed to be the menopause.
How long do menopausal hot flushes last?
They vary a great deal between people. Many women have hot flushes for a few years around the menopause, while some experience them for longer. If they are severe or disrupting your life, a clinician can discuss ways to reduce them.
What can trigger a hot flush?
Common triggers include spicy food, caffeine, alcohol, smoking, stress, warm environments and tight clothing. Identifying and avoiding your personal triggers, alongside keeping cool and using paced breathing, can reduce how often flushes occur.
Can men get hot flushes?
Yes. Men can have hot flushes, particularly if their testosterone is low or as a side effect of some treatments. Hot flushes in men are worth discussing with a doctor so the underlying cause can be identified.
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NICE CKS: Menopause.
- Women's Health Concern: hot flushes and night sweats.
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