Facebook Pixel

How Hot Flashes Can Impact Your Overall Health

By HERWriter
 
Rate This
Physical therapist works with patient's fractured wrist WavebreakMediaMicro/fotolia

As many as 50 to 85 percent of women will experience hot flashes in the time leading up to and during menopause, according to Christine Northrup, M.D., women's health expert. Depending on duration, frequency, and intensity, they can range from an annoyance to a complete disruption of your daily life. But is there more to them than just a flush of warmth and inconvenient sweating?

Research suggests there may be a correlation between menopausal hot flashes and a woman’s risk for certain medical conditions in the future. While most hot flashes are harmless, there may be times they are a signal to see your doctor about other areas of your health.

Bones

According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, hot flashes during menopause can indicate an increased risk for osteoporosis. Women ages 50 to 79 reporting moderate to severe hot flash symptoms showed lower bone density than women who showed no symptoms, allowing for a higher chance of bone fractures in the future.

Women who experience hot flashes are urged to consume adequate calcium and vitamin D, refrain from smoking, and limit alcohol consumption to moderate amounts. Weight-bearing exercise is also beneficial. Your doctor can perform a bone density test to decide if osteoporosis medication may be needed.

Heart Health

When it comes to your heart, the when of hot flashes is an important marker. Women who experience hot flashes early in their menopause transition have shown to have a slightly lower risk of heart attack according to the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI-OS). But women who have hot flashes later in menopause have a slightly increased risk. The risk can also continue to increase over the years. 

“Hot flashes that start when you’re older, past menopause, are linked to [higher risk of] heart disease,” says Cynthia Stuenkel, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at the University of California in San Diego and co-author of the book “Menopause Practice: A Clinician’s Guide.”

Research including women enrolled in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), found much higher HDL (“good”), LDL (“bad”), and triglycerides in women who experienced frequent hot flashes compared to women who were not experiencing hot flashes at all. These results were independent of other predisposing risk factors such as weight and age.

Thyroid Issues

Women who suffer from thyroid issues may not be diagnosed right away because the symptoms, including hot flashes, are very similar to menopause. "Hot flashes may be a sign of the menopausal transition or of other medical conditions such as thyroid disease," says Anne Z. Steiner, M.D., M.Ph., assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

If not treated, thyroid disease can increase your risk for heart disease and osteoporosis, according to researchers from Boston University Medical Center. A simple blood test for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) at your doctor’s office can help you if you’re experiencing menopause or thyroid issues.

Breast Cancer

Luckily, hot flashes can also be a signal of something positive: a reduced risk of breast cancer. According to research from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, women who experienced hot flashes and other menopause symptoms faced only half the risk of two common types of breast cancer. More severe hot flashes correlated to lower risk.

Overall, hot flashes are a natural reminder that you are moving into a new phase of life – one that brings physical changes with it. It’s time to pay closer attention to your body, especially when it concerns your cardiovascular and bone health. Speak to your doctor about scheduling regular checkups and starting to monitor important factors such as blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels, thyroid function, and bone density.

Reviewed March 22, 2016
by Michele Blacksberg RN

Read more in Your Guide for Menopause & Hot Flash Treatment Options

What Hot Flashes Can Tell You About Your Health. Everyday Health. Retrieved March 15, 2016. http://www.everydayhealth.com/menopause/what-hot-flashes-can-tell-you-about-your-health.aspx

Hot Flashes Linked to Osteoporosis. BerkeleyWellness.com. Retrieved March 15, 2016. http://www.berkeleywellness.com/self-care/preventive-care/article/hot-flashes-linked-osteoporosis

Hot Flashes Linked To Lower Breast Cancer Risk. WebMD. Retrieved March 15, 2016. http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20110127/hot-flashes-linked-to-lower-breast-cancer-risk

Hot Flashes. Christine Northrup, M.D. Retrieved March 15, 2016. http://www.drnorthrup.com/hot-flashes/

Hot Flashes Linked to Higher Cholesterol. WebMD. Retrieved March 22, 2016. http://www.webmd.com/menopause/news/20110921/hot-flashes-may-be-linked-to-higher-cholesterol

Your Guide for Menopause & Hot Flash Treatment Options

Insomnia: When Menopause Keeps You Up At Night

Insomnia: When Menopause Keeps You Up At Night

Advice for My Daughters About Menopause

Advice for My Daughters About Menopause

Does Menopause Make Your Body Age Faster?

Does Menopause Make Your Body Age Faster?

What Does Menopause Have to Do With Heart Disease?

What Does Menopause Have to Do With Heart Disease?

All in Your Guide for Menopause & Hot Flash Treatment Options

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

>

Get Hot Flashes Email updates

Receive the latest information around hot flashes. Sign up now!