Can someone tell an ignorant male why women of a certain age are prone to hot flushes?
Hot flashes, also known as hot flushes, appear because of changing hormone levels around the time of menopause. They may be the first indication of the approach of menopause, before any sign of menstrual irregularity, but they more commonly appear well into perimenopause. Episodes of hot flashes may persist for a year or so, or can continue for five years or more. The precise mechanism responsible for hot flashes is not known for certain, but hormone fluctuations are thought to be a significant factor. Underweight women tend to experience more frequent hot flashes, possibly because fat plays a supportive role in hormone production. Hot flashes affect smokers earlier in life than nonsmokers.
