Some women are dizzy, sick to their stomach, or have a fast heartbeat with this feeling. These flashes often occur at night and wake the woman from sleep. They may last a few seconds or many minutes. Flashes may happen once a week or as often as every 30 minutes. If sleep is lost every night, the woman will be tired and stressed in the day.
Hot flashes can occur even before periods are missed and last well into the menopause.
Forty-five percent of women have flashes 5 to 10 years into menopause. If these are not too disturbing, they do not need to be treated. Taking the female hormone, estrogen, in small, constant amounts will stop the flashes. Before treatment, an exam, a mammogram, and blood tests will be done. Your medical history will help determine the risks to consider.