How Often Should I Be Getting Hot Flashes?
Other People Are Reading
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Hot Flashes Can Be Predictable
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Hot flashes usually occur once a month, around the time of a woman's period in women who are either entering (perimenopause) or in menopause. They may occur once a day for a week, or several times during the month. They are caused by fluctuations in estrogen, the female hormone which is decreasing as a woman approaches and enters menopause.
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Some Women Have No Hot Flashes
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One study in Japan suggested that women who have a high daily intake of soy products (tofu, miso) either did not have hot flashes or experience only the barest of discomfort. However, there are women who experience hot flashes in the extreme--once a week or every hour for many years. This is rare. Women who have survived breast cancer may experience hot flashes at an earlier age.
Bottom Line
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Most women going through menopause will experience hot flashes a few times each month. The good news is they are short (about 3 minutes per episode) and won't continue beyond a year following the last menstrual period. Be on the look out for triggers such as poor diet, stress, fatigue and medications (Zyrtec) that can bring on hot flashes.
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