hot flash

Spray that flash away

Posted by Liz on Jun 9, 2008 in estrogen, hot flash | 0 comments

The FDA just approved a low-dose estradiol spray to treat moderate-to-severe hot flashes. Approval was largely based on a study, published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, which showed significant declines in the frequency and severity of hot flushes after 4 to 12 weeks. Interestingly, women using the placebo spray also experienced declines in flush frequency although not to the extent as the prescription product, which is called Elestrin.

This form of estrogen carries the same risks as other forms, although delivery through the skin does bypass the liver and general metabolism to reduce some of the side effects of oral estrogen. Still, a key consideration remains the imbalance between estrogen and progesterone that I discussed in a previous post. This can become even worse with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that focuses on the estrogen component at the expense of the progesterone component.

Clearly, I’m not huge advocate of HRT although I do believe that it is an individual decision that every woman must make for herself. I’ll be interested in monitoring responses to Elestrin. Has anybody tried it?

Needles anyone?

Posted by Liz on May 28, 2008 in hot flash, sleep disturbance | 0 comments

According to a study in Holistic Nursing Practice, acupuncture directed at menopausal-specific sites can substantially alleviate hot flashes and sleep disturbances. Too good to be true? I think that this is a topic that deserves a lot more attention. Stay tuned!

How many changes of clothing?

Posted by Liz on May 22, 2008 in apparel, hot flash, nightsweats | 3 comments

How many changes of clothing do women in the midst of hot flash heaven take to work? I’ve heard of numbers ranging from one up to three. Guess it depends on how often you’re flashing, right?

Recently, I ran across this interesting site for COOLMAX apparel. COOLMAX is a wicking fabric that draws moisture away from the body while promoting its absorption. What this means for the wearer is that you will stay cooler despite the sweat. Now mind you, while several sites carry COOLMAX clothing, it tends to run on the more casual side and may not be appropriate as work attire. Nor has it moved into high fashion arena as of yet.

COOLMAX is only one of numerous wicking fabrics that have been used in recent years for athletic gear and are now moving into other markets. Several companies cater to women who experience hot flashes and night sweats and in coming weeks, I’m going to highlight a few (and rate a few as well!).

A quick search revealed a cute tank top to wear under jackets (although the rest of their wares are bit too conservative for my taste!), Sierra Trading Post carries a COOLMAX long sleeved top and a tank that are not bad looking.

Look, this apparel is definitely not geared towards the fashionista and I’m hoping that as more and more women start opening up about what’s going on, that designers will start to listen and accommodate.

In the interim, it may be prudent to start the day with loose, cotton clothing in several layers, if work allows. As you flash, remove a layer or two. And be sure to have an ’emergency’ kit with moist towelettes on-hand so that you can change clothing and feel fresher.

Counting Sheep

Posted by Liz on May 12, 2008 in hot flash | 0 comments

Seems like bills, the primaries, the environment, family, kids and work aren’t the only things that we’re losing sleep over. News from one of my favorite wire services suggests that severe sleep disruption, and not night sweats or irritability is one of most commonly-reported complaint among middle-aged women entering menopause. This is quite important as most of the evidence points to vasomotor symptoms like the sweats and flashes, as largely responsible for poor sleep.

I’ve heard from several of my gal pals that they are having difficulty sleeping. Equally troubling, however, is that if your go-to medical expert is a family doctor, well, he or she might not be completely clear on what to do about sleep distubances, especially when it comes to alternative therapies.

So, what works and what doesn’t when it comes to sleep issues?

In addition to the more obvious solutions, such as cutting back on caffeine and alcohol, beefing up intake of phytoestrogens (which are found in soy, flaxseed and tofu) or engaging in relaxation exercise and meditation right at bedtime, herbal extracts like valerian and passionflower might help.

Now mind you, there’s a lot of controversy over claims that valerian helps to decrease insomnia and reviews of the literature say that there’s not enough evidence to support its value. Personally, the valerian/passionflower combo has worked well for me, although I sometimes awaken with a “hangover” type feeling. There’s a relatively new black cohosh/valerian tablet on the market as well with some studies to support use in sleep disturbance. Note that while I’ve been advised to use black cohosh before bed, I personally prefer the product without the valerian component.

Another option is a supplement called 5-HTP. 5-HTP is an amino acid and natural precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is a major target for today’s antidepressants, and in addition to being involved in mood regulation, it also plays a role in modulating appetite and body temperature. An important note of caution when using 5-HTP is that if you are also using an SSRI or MAOI antidepressant, you need to speak to your doctor first before trying; too much serotonin in your system can be toxic or even fatal. 5-HTP can also interact with other agents so self-medicating without consulting a health professional is a big no-no.

Even with a little help, insomnia can persist through the perimenopause to menopause transition, especially right before your menstrual period. I believe that your practitioner can be great resource for steps that you can take to counter the sleep issues.

Talk Talk

Posted by Liz on May 10, 2008 in hot flash | 0 comments

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvAVJTQeFiQ]

I’ve been surfing lots to see what folks are saying about the menopause. And it’s given me pause, which is why I wanted to pick up my pen and intervene.

Too often, what I run across is run of the mill, me-too, stale copy with highly technical information “dumbed down” for the consumer OR advice on how to delight in the menopause OR unsound or unproven alternatives that are not tailored to the individual but to the masses.

So, how do you like your information served? Sugar-coated with a cherry and whipped cream? Or organic, fresh and crisp, just-picked and newly-ripened, one perfect portion at a time, presented with you and your needs in mind?

I only ask not be “talked at” but spoken to in an engaging, respectful manner. I didn’t believe those tampon ads back in the 70s depicting two happy teenage girls on the beach exercising, and I don’t believe that I should be told that I will delight in a drenching hot flash, perspiration rolling down my face, and huge sweat rings staining a new silk blouse.

So, here’s my promise to you. Straight talk, no shooter, engaging, factual, and timely. If you catch a few words here and there that resonate…well, we’re halfway there.

Here’s the first course:

A small but scientifically designed study out of China shows that acupuncture plus cupping provided relief of menopause-related perspiration in approximately 81% of women compared to acupuncture alone or cupping alone. Sound interesting?