This is often followed by profuse sweating and then cold shivering as body temperature readjusts. A hot flash can last a few moments or 30 minutes or longer. Hot flashes occur sporadically and often start several years before other signs of menopause . They gradually decline in frequency and intensity as you 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.