Hot flashes are probably one of the most well-known symptoms of menopause, although these intense bursts of fever-like heat can also be caused by other conditions as well. Millions of women (and a few men) experience this event on a somewhat regular basis, and it can have a truly disruptive effect on their lives. Whether they take the form of “night sweats” that keep you from sleeping, or leave you dabbing your brow in an important business meeting, there is no doubt that hot flashes – also known as flushes – are a great source of frustration.
While there are hormone replacement treatments and nutritional dietary supplements aimed at managing this and other menopausal symptoms, medical researchers are still working toward a more targeted treatment option for the issues that affect women during time of life. And, according to a news story from the University of Arizona, scientists have come one step closer to developing just that.
With the guidance of pathology professor Dr. Naomi Rance, UA doctoral student Melinda Mittelman-Smith led a study that unearthed a group of neurons in the brain that reportedly affect the body’s ability to manage energy, moderate temperature and even play a hand in reproductive cycles.
Mittelman-Smith explained that the brain cells discovered – KNDy neurons interact with estrogen, and when levels of that hormone drop, the neurons essentially shift to a state of hyperactivity. This, the researchers speculated, may be partially responsible for hot flashes in older women.
“I wouldn’t say we solved the problem,” Mittelman-Smith said of her discovery, “but we have a good clue about what could be causing the flushes.”
Hot flashes are just one of many physical changes women experience as they age, many of which can be lessened via well-balanced nutrition. For information about our women’s specialty products, click here.