My sister started having hot flashes

Here's what she needs to know now that she's officially hot & bothered.

One of my sisters started having hot flashes, which of course meant that my brain kicked into high gear thinking about all the things she needs to know ASAP.

You’d think we’d have already had these conversations - given my line of work - but she’s several years younger than me and the first of us to start having hot flashes. Another reminder that the timing of symptoms for natural menopause is impossible to predict.

So anyway, here’s what she needs to know now that she’s officially in the thick of it:

Vasomotor symptoms (like hot flashes, night sweats, cold flashes, etc.) can last a long time. How long? Anywhere from 5-10 years, depending on your ethnicity. And then of course, there are the outliers - I have a friend whose mom is still having hot flashes well into her 70’s. So don’t just ignore them and hope they’ll go away on their own. You could be waiting a long, long time.

Hot flashes may not be harmless. Moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms are linked to a higher risk for heart disease. The current thinking is that reducing the number of vasomotor events will also reduce that elevated risk for heart disease, so if you're feeling particularly hot and bothered (wink, wink) it’s important to know your options for getting hot flashes under control.

Hot flashes that happen at night are called night sweats. Night sweats can chronically disrupt your sleep which can then create a whole host of additional health issues you don’t want (weight gain, mood swings, depression, anxiety, and so on). So please, take them seriously.

The gold standard treatment for vasomotor symptoms is hormone therapy. But there are new non-hormone medications on the market as well as a bunch of lifestyle changes you can make that can also be super helpful. Stress management, cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise, and dietary changes can all make a big difference.

And finally, you need to find a qualified medical care provider. I know you’ll want to go see your existing primary care or OB/GYN because you already have a relationship with them, but unless they’ve gone through The Menopause Society’s training course, they likely don’t have the information they need to treat you appropriately.

(Sidenote: this is not your doctor’s fault. They didn’t set the training curriculum when they were in medical school or residency. You can, however, blame patriarchal systems for not caring about middle aged women.)

You can find a qualified menopause expert by typing in your zip code here. Or, you can book a telemedicine visit with an online company that specializes in menopause care. Midi Health is one that I continue to hear good things about, but there are several others.

I can not stress this enough: do not go see a care provider who has not been trained to treat you. I know you’re busy and life is stressful. I know it’s easier to see who you’ve always seen. But I also know the most likely outcome will be frustration. Take a few minutes now to find a qualified doctor. Future You will be so grateful.

And finally, keep reading Hot & Bothered. Because menopause is so much more than hot flashes and I’m covering it all, week by week.

xo, Rebecca