🔥❄️🔥Do you ever feel as though you are swapping between a sauna and an ice bath, but instead of it being a pleasurable experience, it’s now happening 24/7 and feels miserable?

This is one of the most common complaints women see me about during peri and post menopause.

😰Sweats and hot flushes impact women in many ways - I remember waking at night every 40 minutes at one stage, which left me sleep deprived and irritable. It was also really embarrassing when it happened at work. I had trouble concentrating because I was physically uncomfortable as well as tired.

😉 My daughter sent me this cartoon, so clearly it was affecting family relationships as well:

There are many theories about why hot flushes happen, and the research is ongoing.

🧠Many scientists think that hot flushes are triggered when the estrogen hormone levels drop during menopause. This affects a part of the brain called the hypothalamus which controls our core temperature (among other things). It’s as though our thermostat goes on the blink.

⛽Another theory is that reduced glucose delivery to the brain occurs during peri and post menopause. Glucose is the brain’s main fuel, so when this is reduced it affects many of the brain functions, including temperature control.

😒We also know that if women are stressed and less active, they get more hot flushes. So clearly the temperature control is more complicated than we currently know.

So what can we do?

👋For me, what I found most helpful was to see an older female doctor who understood what I was going through (thanks Helen!). She was supportive and gave me clear advice. I started with some treatment and within a week or two was feeling much better.

🩺Treatment options can include hormone replacement (around 75% effective) and cognitive behavioural therapy/CBT (around 40-50% effective - we still don’t know exactly why!)

🩺Other non hormonal medications such as fezolinetant (not subsidised in NZ currently but is available), gabapentin or venlafaxine can also work.

🩺A stellate ganglion block, or nerve block technique where some local anesthetic is injected into a nerve in the neck (done by specialist radiologists in Christchurch or Auckland) can also help reduce hot flushes for up to 6-12 months in some cases.

💡Tip: Reducing alcohol and caffeine can be helpful for reducing hot flushes and sweats, as well as insomnia. This is side effect free and has multiple benefits to your health.

🔥❄️Are you struggling with peri- or menopause symptoms?

🌸Wanting personalised assessment in a supportive environment that gives you the opportunity to talk through what you need?

🌸Wanting to consider a more holistic/lifestyle approach, and/or the opportunity to discuss hormonal or medication options?

Then email me at [email protected] and we can book a free initial 5 minute call to discuss how I can help.

If you’re finding this newsletter useful please share it with your friends (https://erikas-newsletter-21b621.beehiiv.com/subscribe) so I can help support more women in midlife 🩷

Stay happy and healthy!

Erika.