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Hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause. About 8 in 10 menopausal women have them.¹

If you have a hot flash, your face and upper body suddenly feel very hot and may redden. This can last from 30 seconds to several minutes. As the hot flash gradually fades, you may feel chilled, shivery, faint or dizzy.

Hot flashes vary in how often they happen and also in how in tense they are. You may have them once or twice a week, a few times a day, or several times an hour.² You may get only a mild feeling of warmth or you may turn bright red and sweat.

For some women, hot flashes are only a minor nuisance. But others find them very distressing. Your work, sleep and enjoyment of life can all be affected.

Hot flashes happen when there is an increase in the amount of blood flowing to your skin. The feeling of warmth or heat is caused by a rise in skin temperature. Your heart may beat faster and your blood pressure may also rise.³ The chill that you feel afterward happens because your body loses heat and your temperature drops when more blood flows to your skin.

Hot flashes usually start during perimenopause (the time leading up to menopause) and they often continue for several years. More than half of the women who took part in one study had hot flashes in the two years before and after their last period.

Researchers don't know exactly why you get hot flashes.³ One theory is that a drop in levels of the hormone estrogen may affect the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that controls body temperature).⁴

You may also find hot flashes are triggered by things like stress, caffeine, spicy foods, hot drinks or alcohol. So, it's best to avoid the things that trigger your hot flashes.

Your hot flashes might get worse as your body produces less estrogen.³ It's hard to predict how long they will last. You may have them for only a few months, or they may go on for years.⁴ A quarter to half of women still have them five years after menopause.⁵

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.