These include hormone changes such as estrogen decline, the aging process itself, and stress. They are more common in the evening and during hot weather. They can hit as often as every 90 minutes. Each one can last from 15 seconds to 30 minutes - 5 minutes is average. Seventy-five to eighty percent of women going through menopause experience hot flashes.
Hot flashes bother some women more than others.
Sometimes heart palpitations accompany hot flashes. This can lead to anemia. This results from hormone changes. The vaginal wall also becomes thinner. These problems can make sexual intercourse painful or uncomfortable and can lead to irritation and increased risk for infection.