Medicines and foods to help reduce hot flashes in menopause

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Tran Thi Mai Huong - Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

A woman's menopause goes through a lot of changes related to her endocrine system. This causes a number of symptoms, including hot flashes. These hot flashes have a great impact on a woman's quality of life. Using the right medications and foods can help relieve these symptoms.

Hot flashes, a common symptom of the menopausal transition, are uncomfortable and can last for years. When they occur at night, hot flashes are known as night sweats. Some women find that hot flashes disrupt their daily lives. The earlier in life hot flashes start, the longer you are at risk of experiencing them. Research has shown that African-American and Hispanic women have hot flashes that last more years than white and Asian women.
Doctors can easily diagnose hot flashes based on the description of symptoms described by the patient. Your doctor may order some blood tests to check if you are in perimenopause.
You may not need to make lifestyle changes or seek treatment options because your symptoms are mild. However, if you are bothered by hot flashes, there are a few things you can do to treat them. Try to be aware of the cause of your hot flashes and how severe they are as this can help you make better decisions about how to manage your symptoms.

The most effective ways to reduce the discomfort of hot flashes are by taking certain types of the hormone estrogen. However, the use of this hormone comes with many risks. If estrogen is right for you and you take it continuously for 10 years from your last period or before age 60, the benefits may outweigh the risks.
Medications such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants can also help with hot flashes symptoms, although they are less effective than hormone medications.
Discuss the pros and cons of different treatments with your doctor. If hot flashes do not affect the patient's life, treatment may not be needed. Hot flashes will subside for most women but can take several years to completely stop.

Estrogen is a medication commonly used to relieve hot flashes. Most female patients who have had a hysterectomy can take estrogen alone. In case you still have a uterus, the patient should take progesterone along with estrogen to protect against cancer of the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer).
Hormone therapy should be tailored to each patient's needs. Guidelines suggest using the minimum dose for symptom relief. The length of time to use the treatment method depends on the balance between the risks and benefits of hormone therapy. The primary goal remains to optimize the patient's quality of life.
Some female patients taking progesterone in combination with estrogen therapy experience progesterone-related side effects. For women who cannot tolerate oral progesterone, a combination of bazedoxifene with conjugated estrogens (Duavee) is also approved to treat menopausal symptoms. Similar to progesterone, taking bazedoxifene with estrogen may help reduce the risk of endometrial cancer. Bazedoxifene may also protect your bones.
If you have a history of or are at risk for breast or endometrial cancer, heart disease, stroke or blood clots, talk to your doctor about appropriate estrogen therapy.

The low-dose form of paroxetine (Brisdelle) is the only hormone-free hot flashes treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Other antidepressants that have been used to treat hot flashes include: Venlafaxine (Effexor XR). Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva). Citalopram (Celexa). Escitalopram (Lexapro). These medications are usually not as effective as hormone therapy for severe hot flashes, but they may be beneficial for women who cannot use hormones. Possible side effects include nausea, trouble sleeping or falling asleep, weight gain, dry mouth, or sexual dysfunction.

Other drugs that may help relieve symptoms for some women include:
Gabapentin . Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant that is moderately effective in reducing hot flashes. Side effects may include drowsiness, dizziness, swelling in the extremities (edema) and fatigue. Pregabalin (Lyrica). Pregabalin is another anticonvulsant that may be effective in reducing hot flashes. Side effects can include dizziness, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, and weight gain. Oxybutynin (Ditropan XL, Oxytrol). Oxybutynin is a pill or patch commonly used to treat urinary conditions such as an overactive bladder. The drug may also help reduce hot flashes in some female patients. Side effects include common symptoms such as dry mouth, dry eyes, constipation, nausea, and dizziness. Clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay, others). Clonidine, a pill or patch commonly used to treat conditions like high blood pressure, can also help reduce hot flashes. Possible side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, and constipation.

Whether you're experiencing hot flashes, insomnia, irritability or any other unpleasant symptom, what you eat can make a big difference in dealing with your symptoms.
When estrogen levels start to drop, you have to be more mindful of what you eat and how much you eat. You also have to make sure you get plenty of nutrients to protect your bones and vital organs.
Some foods you should use to help relieve the symptoms of hot flashes:
Fruits and vegetables: Many fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, which help prevent cell damage. Favorites include dark green leafy vegetables, including spinach, kale, and broccoli, as well as bell peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and carrots. Brightly colored fruits; such as mangoes, cherries, and berries, are also packed with powerful antioxidants. Fats from fish: Some studies show heart-healthy fats found in fish, called omega-3 fatty acids, to improve mood and brain function. Omega-3 fatty acids can also help keep blood pressure levels under control. Healthy blood pressure can help control hot flashes. Fatty fish like salmon is also one of the few food sources of vitamin D, a nutrient important for both mood and bone health. Protein: To help the body toned, eat a lot of protein-rich foods; such as fish, poultry, legumes, almonds and seeds. Cooling Foods: If you're experiencing hot flashes, "cooling foods" including apples, bananas, spinach, broccoli, eggs and green tea can help cool you down, according to Chinese medicine. All of these foods are rich in nutrients and disease-fighting chemicals. Water: Drinking enough water during menopause is really important. Not only does it help keep your weight in check, but it also helps your body detox and absorb nutrients.

Getting the nutrients you need during menopause is important, but limiting foods that can worsen symptoms is also key. Here are some triggers that you need to avoid:
Spicy foods: It's no surprise that spicy foods can make hot flashes worse. If you tend to feel hot or if you have high blood pressure, consider avoiding spicy foods like hot peppers, jalapenos, and cayenne pepper. Alcohol: Drinking one glass of wine several times a week may not affect your symptoms. But if you drink more than one drink a day (12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of spirits all count as one drink), your health and well-being can take a hit. Alcohol interferes with sleep and can worsen hot flashes, anxiety, or depression. Fatty foods: With the exception of fatty fish and nuts, try to limit the amount of foods high in fat. Stay away from fast food, fried foods and processed cookies, cakes and snacks. Please follow the website: Vinmec.com regularly to update many other useful information.

References: mayoclinic.org, nia.nih.gov