Hot flashes bother some women more than others. Sometimes heart palpitations accompany hot flashes. Hot flashes occur sporadically and often start several years before other signs of menopause. They gradually decline in frequency and intensity with age. Eighty percent of all women with hot flashes have them for 2 years or less, while a small percentage have them for more than 5 years.
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.