The Big Chill

The Big Chill Are you reaching for your sweater and constantly fiddling with the thermostat? You swear it is freezing outside and it’s a sunny 85 degrees? You’re worried that you might be coming down with something, or maybe even worse. If you’re going through menopause, it is likely that you might have hot flashes and have felt its rising intense heat, but what many women don’t know is that hormonal changes can cause cold flashes as well. Yes, it’s true. Sorry ladies just add it to the list. Cold extremities and Menopause Cold flashes are not as common as hot flashes, but many experts believe that cold flashes are underreported. Some women describe the feeling as “bone chilling” cold that doesn’t go away, even when you are dressed appropriately. If you find yourself with sudden shivers out of nowhere, you might be having a cold flash. Many women say their cold flashes come on right after a hot flash, but most of the time, no one really knows. Cold flashes can be just as uncomfortable as a hot flash. The cause of a cold flash is likely due to a drop in estrogen levels. The hypothalamus is the part of your brain that regulates body temperature and the decline in estrogen causes the hypothalamus to release chemicals that alert your body it’s overheating. The body tries to cool off and the result is a hot flash.

How to reduce the chill?

Cold flashes that are disruptive can be reduced with a number of lifestyle changes.

Anxiety is known to trigger cold flashes or at the least, make them worse. Anxiety affects the sympathetic nervous system and when you are experiencing hormonal fluctuations, the flight or fight hormones that are caused by anxiety can make your body to heat up, and then cool down. Changing hormones and bodies already have women in perimenopause and menopause feeling jittery and women work hard to stay balanced mentally during menopause. Temperature instability in menopause can be caused by fluctuating hormones and as a woman enters perimenopause and menopause, your body’s thermostat can have a difficult time regulating itself. Exercise and meditation as well as paying attention to your breathing help reduce anxiety and the resulting cold flashes. Watching what you eat to avoid cold flash triggers includes avoiding sugar, caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods. Quitting smoking can reduce both hot and cold flashes. Avoiding triggers can help but staying out of wet clothes and getting extra moisture away from your body and bedding can help. Bring a sweater and dress in layers, you’ll be more comfortable. Sweating it out with exercise seems like the worst thing during menopausal hot flash but during a cold flash, you can make the heat of exercise work for you. Exercise can pump up the blood volume and warm up your hands and feet. Consider other chill causes Disruption in thyroid function, even if you currently take thyroid medication can cause you to feel chilly. Cold hands and feet during menopause may also be caused by low testosterone MedStudio takes away the chill of menopause If you’re having disruptive cold flashes, the hormone balancing experts at MedStudio private medical clinic specializing in restoring, rebalancing your hormones so you can live life better.