Open AccessMenopausal hot flashes: A concise review
Author(s) -
Rohit Bansal,
Neelam Aggarwal
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of mid-life health
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.423
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 0976-7819
pISSN - 0976-7800
DOI - 10.4103/jmh.jmh_7_19
Subject(s) - menopause , dynorphin , neurokinin b , kisspeptin , estrogen , norepinephrine , endocrinology , medicine , vasomotor , serotonin , calcitonin , psychology , hormone , receptor , neuropeptide , opioid peptide , opioid , substance p , dopamine
Hot flashes (HFs), defined as transient sensations of heat, sweating, flushing, anxiety, and chills lasting for 1-5 min, constitute one of the most common symptoms of menopause among women though only a few seek treatment for these. The basis of HFs lies in abnormal hypothalamic thermoregulatory control resulting in abnormal vasodilatory response to minor elevations of core body temperature. Recent data suggest an important role for calcitonin gene-related peptide, hypothalamic kisspeptin, neurokinin B and dynorphin signal system, serotonin, norepinephrine in causation of HFs in addition to estrogen deficiency which plays a cardinal role. The mainstay of treatment includes hormonal replacement therapy, selective serotonin, and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors in addition to lifestyle modification. In this review, we address common issues related to menopause HFs and suggest a stepwise approach to their management.