The symptom interferes with work routine and sleep, compromising the quality of life; find out why it happens and what your treatment options are
EINSTEIN AGENCY – When a woman enters menopauseone of the main complaints is linked to the appearance of vasomotor symptoms – the famous flushes, popularly called “hot flashes,” which cause intense discomfort. It is believed that at least 90% of them will experience these symptoms mildly (feeling hot without sweating, which is not a total discomfort). However, a new study shows that a third of Brazilian women will suffer from it moderate or severe intensitywhich has a negative impact on the quality of life and has a direct influence on sleep.
Hot flashes during menopause are linked decrease in estrogen, the main female hormone. They generally appear suddenly, especially at night, while the woman is sleeping, causing intense heat in the chest area and a feeling of tightness. The discomfort can be so intense that some women report feeling their face “burn” and sweat dripping.
The research evaluated data from 12,268 women aged 40 to 65 in Brazil, Canada, Mexico and four Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. To obtain the results, the authors administered an online questionnaire with specific questions on the quality of life in menopause, productivity at work, activity impairment and the evaluation of any sleep disorders. Participants also provided information on their attitudes towards symptoms and available treatments.
Brazilian discomfort is above average
The results indicate an overall prevalence of moderate to severe symptoms of 15.6% among all women evaluated. However, this prevalence was significantly higher among Brazilian women (36.2%, or one third) than among Nordic women (11.6%). The researchers also found that hot flashes compromised work performance up to 30% of cases, with greater severity of symptoms observed in relation to sleep.
Also according to the study, many women asked their doctor for advice, but the majority (56.9%) were not being treated for vasomotor symptoms. The article was published in the magazine MenopauseJournal of the American Menopause Society.
According to Rogério Bonassi Machado, one of the authors, president of the Brazilian Climate Society (Sobrac) and professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Jundiaí, the fact that Brazilian women report more intense symptoms than Nordic women has attracted attention – and One of the possible explanations is the temperature difference between countries. “We are a much hotter country, so Brazilian women most likely suffer from it too influence of climate“, he said.
Another fact that caught the researchers’ attention is that Mexican women reported fewer hot flashes – only 16% of them reported experiencing moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms – given that they live in similar climatic conditions to those of Brazil. “These are data that we need to understand better. But, speaking with the Mexican researcher, one of the possible explanations concerns the cultural issue. Mexican women tend not to report cases as much as Brazilian women: that is, complain less to doctors”, he suggested Machado.
Why do hot flashes happen?
Hot flashes appear due to the decrease in the action of estrogen in the hypothalamus, which has a region responsible for regulating temperature in the body and functions as if it were a thermostat: “In the hypothalamus there is a thermoregulatory center that acts all within normal ranges to exchange heat or not. If the outside temperature is very hot, our body will want to exchange heat in an attempt to reduce the temperature. When it is cold, mechanisms in the hypothalamus lead to heat retention. When the level of estrogen is reduced. Any change in temperature activates the thermoregulatory center and causes it to lose heat. It is as if this thermostat is out of adjustment,” explained Machado.
In most cases, the sensation causes the woman to wake up from sleep: she is awakened by the heat wave and has difficulty falling back to sleep, causing a strong impact on the quality of sleep. The heat usually lasts 30 seconds to a minute and in some cases can be longer.
According to Machado, what defines symptoms as mild, moderate or severe is the impact on women’s daily activities. In the study, mild symptoms were defined as a feeling of heat with sweating, but maintaining the ability to continue an activity. Moderate and severe symptoms were defined as those with a sensation of heat with excessive sweating, which caused the woman to interrupt her routine. The specialist also underlines that the number of episodes reported by the patient is also an important factor.
“There are women who report 50 episodes of hot flashes a day. It’s very bad because it interferes with their quality of life, their daily activities and, above all, the quality of their sleep,” the researcher said.
Is there a way to avoid it?
Hot flashes are a component of menopause, and symptoms typically last three to four years. They tend to resolve spontaneously, but there are cases in which they become persistent and last more than ten years.
The gold standard treatment is hormone replacement therapy (estrogen replacement) – this is the most traditional, safe and recommended line because it usually brings a lot of relief to vasomotor symptoms. It can be used in the form of gel, patches and orally.
“Hormone replacement is the most effective treatment for hot flashes and, in general, it is hot flashes that motivate patients to seek treatment, especially in cases where the hot flashes are more intense,” says the gynecologist and obstetrician Sérgio Podgaec, of the Israelite Albert Einstein Hospital.
The problem is that not all women can take hormone replacement therapy. there are contraindications especially for those who have had breast cancer. Therefore, a medical evaluation is necessary to analyze the risks and correctly indicate the treatment.
“Many women are afraid to take hormone replacement therapy because the use of estrogen and progesterone for those who still have a uterus can increase the risk of breast cancer. It’s a very small risk, but it exists. Women who don’t have hormone replacement therapy “The uterus should be replaced with estrogen alone, and in these cases, the risk of cancer does not increase,” Podgaec said.
Einstein’s gynecologist and obstetrician emphasizes that the contraindication to hormone replacement is only for women who have had breast, endometrial or ovarian cancer. For these cases, alternative pharmacological treatments exist, such as using lower-dose antidepressants that may ease hot flashes a bit, but don’t always resolve them. There are still behavioral therapiessuch as yoga, acupuncture and phisical exercises.
“This study is very important because it helps us understand the epidemiology and demographics of the disease in Brazil. This helps us to better understand the profile of women and to understand from a practical point of view what should be studied and followed for treatments” , concluded Podgaec.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
