What Does a Hot Flash Feel Like? Here's How to Tell and Get Some Relief

It's most likely a menopause symptom—but you don't have to suffer through it.

When people think of menopause, they often think of hot flashes. This vasomotor menopause symptom impacts around 75 percent of American women going through perimenopause and menopause, according to The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), and they range in frequency and severity.

Perimenopause, the transition phase leading up to a woman’s last period, often begins in her 40s (although some do start earlier). This is when she’ll begin to experience any number of hormone-related symptoms, hot flashes included, as her body transitions to menopause.

Despite being one of the most common symptoms of menopause, hot flashes are still widely misunderstood. But gone are the days where removing layers of clothing was the sole solution to symptoms. We know a lot more about the transition leading up to and after a woman’s last period, and there are treatments to help with hot flashes.

Related: 7 Possible Reasons Why You're Getting Night Sweats—and How to Find Some Relief

What Is a Hot Flash, and What Does It Feel Like?

A hot flash is “a sudden moment of warmth—usually in the face, neck and shoulders, followed by sweating,” says Elena Ratner, MD, gynecologic oncologist at Yale New Haven Hospital and Smilow Cancer Hospital. She adds that it’s the “most common manifestation of menopause.”

A hot flash usually lasts anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. For some it causes flushing and rapid heartbeat, and some women get the chills after the wave of heat.

According to the NAMS, a hot flash is believed to be caused by changes in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates temperature. The brain receives a (false) signal that the body is too warm and kicks off its own cool-down mechanism—including a flash of warmth and sweating—to “help.”

“Just like everything with women's health, the menopause experience and symptoms are so individual,” she says. Some people experience hot flashes daily—a dozen or even dozens of times a day—lasting anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Others get them much less frequently, and still others don’t experience them at all. Most symptoms will peak once the end of menopause hits (one year after the final period), although Dr. Ratner has seen patients who have decreasing symptoms two, three, and even five years after they hit menopause.

Does Anything Cause or Worsen Hot Flashes?

Hot flashes may come regardless of lifestyle factors like your environment, habits, and activities. However, there are a few things that may trigger hot flashes. These triggers will vary from person to person, of course, but some common culprits are hot weather or heat, stress, alcohol, caffeine, smoking, alcohol or even tight clothing. It may be helpful to keep a written log of what might be triggering your hot flashes in case it’s possible to avoid it or be more prepared for it in the future.

Related: 10 Nourishing Foods to Eat to Support Your Body Through Menopause

Is It a Menopause Hot Flash or Something Else?

According to Dr. Ratner, it’s “pretty unlikely” that a hot flash would be caused by something else, but it’s not totally impossible. The first recommendation for someone experiencing them is usually to check their thyroid for thyroid disease, which can mimic menopause symptoms, especially if they aren’t in the traditional age bracket for perimenopause or menopause. Additionally, some cancers may cause hot flashes—so it’s always important to check in with your primary care doctor if you notice anything out of the ordinary.

Related: 7 Possible Reasons Why You're Getting Night Sweats—and How to Find Some Relief

Hot Flashes and Overall Health

To get yourself the best treatment options and take care of your long-term health, consult a physician who specializes in menopause if you’re experiencing hot flashes. A 2008 study in the American Heart Association journal suggests that hot flashes may mark adverse underlying vascular changes among midlife women and potentially lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

“Treating hot flashes is not just about quality of life, it’s about length of life,” says Lauren Streicher, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. She emphasizes hot flashes can also impact bone health and cognitive health in women—and it’s important to be aware that they aren’t just inconvenient and uncomfortable, but that they can have more serious health implications, too.

Treatment Options

The great news? There are several treatment options available. Dr. Ratner says the most important thing is that women don’t need to just accept the hot flashes anymore: “Much can be done to improve and eliminate them completely,” she assures.

Dr. Streicher recommends hormone therapy for those that can take it. “It gets rid of hot flashes, but also decreases risk of osteoporosis, cognitive decline, and more,” she says.

Hormone therapy has had a controversial history over the last few decades, but Dr. Ratner and Dr. Streicher agree that it’s a great first line of treatment they can often prescribe in very low doses. This treatment is mostly prescribed as estrogen, or estrogen plus progesterone, and can also help tackle other menopausal symptoms such as mood swings and vaginal dryness.

However, there are people who can’t handle hormone therapy—it is not recommended for anyone with breast cancer, for example. Others simply don’t like the risks associated with it, and some may opt for non-hormonal treatments due to personal preference. Some drugs commonly used for depression, chronic pain, or neuropathy are sometimes prescribed for hot flashes.

A new recommended non-hormonal drug option Fezolinetant was approved by the FDA in June 2023, which Dr. Streicher calls “an exciting non-estrogen option.” The NAMS recently released a position statement with its stamp of approval on both this new drug and other non-hormonal treatment options.

Related: 5 Habits That Naturally Support Hormonal Health, According to Doctors

How to Find a Menopause Specialist

If you are experiencing hot flashes and seeking treatment, Dr. Streicher highly encourages you to find a menopause specialist—not just a general doctor—and to visit the North American Menopause Society website to do so. Simply search for a menopause practitioner in your zip code.

“It’s important for women to do their homework,” she says. And Dr. Ratner advises having a frank conversation with whatever physician you choose. “Women have a voice in their medical care and we, as doctors, really need to listen to each person on an individual basis,” she says.

Related: 12 Health Stats You Absolutely Should Know About Yourself

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