Hot Flashes

Hot Flashes

Hot flashes happen when the tiny blood vessels in your skin expand for a bit, which is a fancy way of saying there’s some instability in your blood flow. The exact reason behind them is still a mystery. Sometimes, certain blood vessels widen, letting more blood rush in. When this occurs, you might feel a sudden wave of heat on your skin, often followed by sweating, which helps cool you down but can leave you feeling a bit chilly afterward. You might also experience a brief shortness of breath or even some heart palpitations, but there’s no need to freak out. Interestingly, some women never experience hot flashes at all! For those who do, they often start in the face, neck, head, or chest and can spread from there. A few have even said they begin in their ears or feet. These flashes usually last anywhere from 30 seconds to over an hour, which can be quite a lot to deal with, especially in the summer. Hot flashes are most common after periods have stopped, but some women still feel them while they’re menstruating.