What happens inside your body during a hot flash
Hot flashes are a common experience for many women during perimenopause and menopause. They are characterized by sudden heat surges, often accompanied by sweating and flushed skin, and can last from one to five minutes. The physiological cause involves changes in estrogen levels and the brain's temperature regulation, leading to a hypersensitive response to temperature changes.
- ▪Hot flashes typically occur in women during perimenopause and menopause.
- ▪They can last from one to five minutes and vary in intensity among individuals.
- ▪Triggers for hot flashes include alcohol, caffeine, and stress.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Health Diseases Heart Disease What happens inside your body during a hot flash And why some women never get them. By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall Published May 26, 2026 9:01 AM EDT Add Popular Science (opens in a new tab) More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results. A hot flash is a rite of passage for the majority of women in either perimenopause, the years leading up to menopause, or the years beyond it. Image: MementoJpeg / Getty Images Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Email address Sign up Thank you! Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. For a woman in her mid-40s to mid-50s, it arrives without warning.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Popular Science.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Popular Science
