What is a hot flash?

You can thank your changing hormones for these personal heat waves. When estrogen levels are naturally reduced by the onset of menopause, it affects the part of brain that controls your body temperature. Your body is then ‘tricked’ into feeling overly hot, and compensates by telling your heart to pump faster, your blood vessels to dilate, and your sweat glands to get busy cooling. The effect is even more intense heat, delivered in a ‘flash.’ 

The most common symptom of menopause, hot flashes may happen a few times a year (or many times a day). It’s not dangerous, just uncomfortable.