Can Anxiety Cause Hot Flashes

Anxiety And Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are the most commonly reported symptom of menopause, and can last for years in some woman. Anxiety can impact how often and how severe a woman’s hot flashes are.

Research shows that women who experience a moderate amount of stress in their life experience more hot flashes as women who don’t. Along with stress, anxiety disorders, depression, and other psychological conditions can also increase the frequency and intensity of hot flashes.

Anxiety In Relation To Hot Flashes Adjusted For Menopausal Stage

There was no significant interaction between somatic anxiety or affective anxiety and menopausal stage, indicating that the patterns of association with hot flashes in the menopause transition were similar . In models adjusted only for menopausal stage, the magnitude of the association between somatic anxiety and hot flashes dramatically increased in the follow-up interval , while the association between affective anxiety and hot flashes increased to a lesser extent . To test whether hot flash-type symptoms in the somatic anxiety dimension accounted for the association between anxiety and hot flashes, we recalculated the somatic anxiety subscale, subtracting these 2 items. When the models were rerun, omitting these dual symptoms both singly and together, the associations between somatic anxiety and hot flashes remained significant .

Incidence of moderate/severe hot flashes by anxiety symptom groups and menopausal stages. Main effect menopausal stage, P< 0.001 anxiety symptom groups, P< 0.001.

Learn More With Overcoming Estrogen Dominance

The body has an amazing ability to heal. We just need to give it the right resources.

In Overcoming Estrogen Dominance, my goal is to empower and give you the tools to take control of your hormones and health.

More than 70% of women experience estrogen dominance. The symptoms range from lumpy and fibrocystic breasts to thyroid nodules, hot flashes, fibroids, uterine polyps, painful, heavy or irregular periods to infertility and miscarriages, from mood swings to insomnia, weight gain to fatigue.

So many women have experienced the pain and frustration that comes when they feel their symptoms and complaints are dismissed or minimized. This is particularly true for women who are experiencing the symptoms of hormone imbalance. Even when doctors do offer treatment, its typically in the form of prescription medication or invasive surgical procedures.

In Overcoming Estrogen Dominance, I hope to show that those extreme interventions are often unnecessary, and to give women a roadmap to reverse estrogen dominance using food, herbs, supplements and natural protocols to rebalance hormones.

To get your copy of Overcoming Estrogen Dominance, go here.

You May Like: What Are The Signs Of An Anxiety Attack

Why Do Men Experience Hot Flashes

What does happen during male midlife is a cluster of changes that, when considered as a whole, seem to predispose menopausal-like symptoms. When men experience hot flashes, it is likely due to very specific circumstances or lifestyle issues.

It is around this time that men tend to experience what is commonly referred to as a midlife crisis. Essentially, they recognize that theyve reached midlife and have begun to intensely evaluate their lives on a personal and professional level. Midlife is a time of dealing with things like relationship issues, career changes or retirement, caring for aging parents, and other stressors. Altogether, these physical and psychological factors can create feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress.

It is well known that anxiety, and stress in particular, have been linked to a number of physical symptoms that strongly resemble hot flashes:

• Sweating

• Over-consumption of alcohol
• Smoking

So, while a lot is happening in a mans life at midlife, significant hormonal fluctuations do not appear to be one of them. Rather, it appears that how male midlife is managed has a significant impact on how it is experienced.

Hormonal Changes In Menopause: Causes & Solutions

The period leading up to the menopause, known as the perimenopause, is often characterised by a series of symptoms which can affect women to varying degrees. These symptoms are caused by sudden fluctuations in hormone levels in your body and, in particular, the decline of hormones that play a vital role in reproductive health..During the perimenopause, a womans body undergoes significant physical and emotional changes, the effects of which can, understandably, contribute to the mental health issues.

Don’t Miss: How Do I Know If I Had An Anxiety Attack

Women’s Health Topics We Need To Talk About In 2020

And she warns that for these women, it’s something to take seriously. “If you’re having serious depression, and your functioning is affected, if you’re having suicidal thoughts, or you feel completely hopeless, that is a major depressive episode that absolutely needs treatment,” she says.

A vulnerable time

Perimenopausal mood swings often resemble symptoms of premenstrual syndrome women might feel sad, or sluggish, or irritable.

“I’ve had people say that they feel like they have PMS all the time,” says psychiatrist Hadine Joffe, who leads the Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “They just don’t feel like they’re in control of their mood and they feel edgy.”

Generally though, these mood swings are manageable, she adds. “The good news is that most women will navigate their perimenopause without serious mental health issues.”

But a significant number of women about 18% among women in early perimenopause and 38% of those in late perimenopause experience symptoms of depression. And symptoms of anxiety appear to be more common during this time leading up to menopause, including panic attacks.

Those most at risk are women with a history of mental illness, as well as women whose moods are particularly sensitive to hormonal fluctuations.

“Women who had postpartum depression or have always had significant mood changes premenstrually are going to be at risk of having more symptoms,” says Payne.

toggle caption

What Causes Panic Disorder

Doctors donât know exactly what causes panic disorder, but one possibility is that the brains of people who have it may be especially sensitive in responding to fear. There’s a link between panic attacks and phobias, like school phobia or claustrophobia. Thereâs also a theory that panic disorder may come from an oversensitivity to carbon dioxide, which makes your brain think you’re suffocating.

A few things can make you more likely to have panic disorder:

• Someone in your family has it
• High levels of stress
• Frequent negative feelings or trouble dealing with negative emotions

Some believe there are ties between panic attacks and:

• Seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that happens in winter

Most often, panic attacks come “out of the blue.” One may even begin while you’re sleeping. Using drugs or alcohol to try to deal with panic disorder can make the symptoms worse. Attacks may come after the use of mind-altering drugs. And some medications can cause panic attacks, including some antidepressants.

Panic disorder may start after:

• A serious illness or accident
• The death of a close friend
• The birth of a baby

People with this disorder often also have major depression, although there is no evidence that one condition causes the other. If you’re 40 or older and have panic disorder, you may have depression or another hidden medical condition. Talk to your doctor to find out what’s going on.

Also Check: What Are The Effects Of Anxiety

Manage Your Emotional Well

Make time to take care of yourself and relax and recharge. Allocate time for friends and family. If youre struggling with a problem, talk it out with a trusted friend. If you find that your problems are overwhelming or keeping you from enjoying life in the way you want to, reach out for professional help.

Sometimes, talking to someone who can be objective helps you see things in a whole new way. A therapist can teach you skills to cope with your anxiety and depression. Reducing your levels of anxiety and depression may help alleviate your experience of hot flashes. If you prefer to avoid the expense and time commitment often involved in working with a therapist, you may be an excellent candidate for online therapy, which is more affordable, discrete, and efficient.

Q: Is There Anything Else I Can Do To Cope With Emotional Concerns During This Phase Of My Life

A: A healthylifestyle can help ease the menopause transition, including the followingsteps:

• Exercise and eat healthy.
• Engage in a creative outlet or hobby that givesyou a sense of achievement.
• Turn to friends, family members or aprofessional counselor for support. Stay connected with your family andcommunity. Nurture your friendships.
• Take medicines, vitamins and minerals asprescribed by your doctor.

Read Also: How Do You Treat Severe Anxiety

Hot Flashes And Health

Hot and cold symptoms can be incredibly disturbing. They may prevent you from sleep and cause you to feel like something is wrong. They occur during periods of intense anxiety, during anxiety attacks or sometimes simply at night when your mind is too active.

Only a doctor can diagnose the cause of your hot and cold symptoms, but these flashes may be caused by anxiety.

The Hot And Cold Experience

These “Flashes” are really just changes to your body temperature. During periods of intense anxiety, your body temperature heats up due to vasoconstriction, which is when your blood vessels tense up as they deliver more blood to the areas involved in fight and flight.

Vasoconstriction causes your body to heat up, and this creates what’s known as a “hot flash.” Your body heat appears to come out of nowhere, giving it its “flash” effects.

But the body also has a way of cooling itself down after it heats up. As soon as you start to experience heat, your body also releases more sweat. That sweat then reaches the air, and you start to cool down – in some cases becoming very cold. This is the “cold flash.” Your body itself isn’t necessarily becoming colder, so much as it is reacting to the sweat that it released to cool down after the hot flash.

When these hot flashes and cold flashes occur at night, it’s often referred to as “night sweats.”

You May Like: How To Help A Teenager With Anxiety

How To Get Rid Of Hot Flashes In Men

Hot flashes can be very uncomfortable and disruptive, but there are treatment options available to help men get rid of them. Firstly, it is important to identify and eliminate what may be causing your hot flashes. Keep note of whether certain foods or medications increase the frequency of your hot flashes and work them out of your diet. There are also some herbal remedies that may offer relief. Black cohosh and ginseng have been found to help reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes in some studies. Finally, some antidepressants have been found to limit the effect of hot flashes.

Hot Flashes: Is Your Thyroid Causing This Symptom

Hot flashes are symptoms often associated with menopause1.

It is often one of the very first symptoms that a woman experience when she is starting to go through menopause.

Hot flashes tend to become uncomfortable and inconvenient, not only causing embarrassing moments for a woman in public, but also leading to interruptions in her sleeping schedule.

Even though usually associated with menopause, often thought to be brought on by the fluctuations in estrogen levels among women who are going through this phase in life, it should be noted that there are other health concerns that may also lead to similar physiological effects that cause hot flashes as a symptom.

Additionally, it is important to note that some men have also reported experiencing hot flashes, which can obviously not be brought on as a menopausal symptom. For this reason, investigating additional causes for hot flashes may yield appropriate methods for implementing more effective treatment measures among patients suffering these symptoms.

The main purpose of this post is to examine how the thyroid is connected to hot flashes as a symptom.

Hot flashes are considered an official symptom of certain problems that may develop with the thyroid, and may occur in both men and women.

We will also consider additional factors that may influence the risk of the development of hot flashes.

Also Check: Can Social Anxiety Be Cured

What To Do About Anxiety And Hot Flashes

Steps you can take to treat anxiety and handle stress include:

• Use relaxation techniques. Meditation, yoga, taking a hot bath, or going for a walk or run can relieve stress.

• Practice deep abdominal breathing. Taking deep breaths and hold them in for a count of eight will decrease your heart rate.

• Manage stress. Stress can be caused by everything from a looming deadline at work, to family problems, to financial issues. You cannot always solve these problems or make them go away, but you can deal with them head on and minimize the negative impact they have on your life.

• Live healthily. Exercising and eating healthy will help you both physically and mentally. Also staying away from alcohol, cigarettes, and processed food will also help you feel better. You do not have to go on a diet or do anything that punishes your body, but taking little steps to eat healthy will improve your overall well-being.

• Have a healthy level of self-esteem. Everyone has negative thoughts once in a while, but if you have them to the point where they are overwhelming, it is important to address this. Talking to a therapist or taking other steps to think more positively can help.

Are Hot Flashes In Men Anxiety

Dawn Ferrara, LPC, PsyD

Youre a generally healthy man. But then one day, all of a sudden, you feel as if your skin is on fire. Youre sweating as if its 100 degrees, and you can feel your skin reddening. Your first thought might be that youre experiencing hot flashes, commonly associated with women going through menopause. But is it possible for men to have hot flashes? Being that hot flashes resemble some of the symptoms of panic attacks, some men may assume they are caused by anxiety. Are they right?

Recommended Reading: How To Stop Anxiety Eating

Anxiety As A Predictor Of Hot Flashes

To address whether anxiety preceded hot flashes and could therefore be considered a predictor of the risk of menopausal hot flashes, the anxiety symptom scores adjusted for menopausal stage were lagged by one assessment period relative to each time of the hot flash reports to identify whether anxiety occurred before incident hot flashes. Lagged somatic anxiety scores significantly predicted risk of hot flashes, with a 69% increase in risk for each point increase in mean somatic anxiety scores . When the somatic anxiety model was re-run with the possible dual symptoms removed from the somatic anxiety scores, the associations of somatic anxiety with hot flashes remained significant in time-lagged models . In contrast, lagged affective anxiety scores did not predict hot flashes, a further indication of the weak association of affective anxiety with hot flashes .