Hot flashes can happen at any time. They can be as mild as a light blush, or severe enough to wake you from a deep sleep. Some women even develop insomnia. Others have experienced that caffeine, alcohol, hot drinks, spicy foods, and stressful or frightening events can sometimes trigger a hot flash. However, avoiding these triggers will not necessarily prevent all episodes.
Hot flashes appear to be a direct result of decreasing estrogen levels.
If there is no estrogen, your glands release other hormones that dilate blood vessels and destabilize body temperature. Hormone therapy relieves the discomfort of hot flashes in most cases. Vitamin E may offer minor relief. This can lead to anemia. These changes can make sexual intercourse uncomfortable or painful.