The root cause is the menopause transition: falling and fluctuating estrogen makes the brain's temperature regulation more sensitive, triggering a sudden warm feeling in the face, neck, and chest, often with sweating.
At night they are called night sweats. MedlinePlus notes they are usually worst in the first 1 to 2 years, then ease for most women. Individual episodes are set off by triggers like caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, warm rooms, and stress.
What to do
Common questions
What causes hot flashes?
The root cause is the menopause transition: as the ovaries produce less estrogen and hormone levels swing, the brain's temperature regulation becomes more sensitive, and small shifts trigger a sudden warm feeling in the face, neck, and chest, often with sweating and flushing. When they happen at night and cause sweating, they are called night sweats. MedlinePlus notes hot flashes are usually worst during the first 1 to 2 years of the transition and then ease for most women. Day to day, common triggers set off individual episodes: hot drinks, caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, warm rooms, stress, and smoking. Less commonly, hot flashes come from medication side effects, thyroid problems, or medical treatments like chemotherapy or ovary removal - menopause before 45 without an obvious cause deserves a check. If they are disrupting sleep or daily life, treatments exist, from lifestyle measures to hormone therapy for the right candidates. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you sort triggers from causes.