Losing Weight Can Cool Hot Flashes, Researchers Say
August 29th, 2010 - 7:15 pm ICT by GDBy Gina Gomez
Aug 29, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Women of late 40s and 50s often suffer from hot flashes, a symptom of the changing hormone levels that are considered to be characteristics of menopause. A hot flash is a sudden sensation of intense body heat, which results in profuse sweating and reddening of the head, neck and chest. Recent medical survey reports say that losing weight helps in cooling hot flashes in women.
The researchers in the University of California, San Francisco said that they studied 338 women with an average age of 53 who were overweight and half of them reported having hot flashes. Archives of Internal Medicine’s July 12 issue said that all the women who reported hot flashes at the start of the study, with their decrease in weight, body mass index and abdominal circumference resulted in improving their hot flashes over a period of six months. The study maintained that the women with a higher body mass index reported more or frequent hot flashes than women with lower body mass index. Reports suggest that hot flashes can persist as many as five years after menopause.
The researchers laid out some basic guidelines for women to reduce their weight and in the process improve their hot flashes. Drinking plenty of water to have a cooling effect, saying no to added sugar and refined carbohydrates, adding more fruits and vegetables to the diet to keep oneself healthy. The researchers have asked women to increase their fiber intake and avoid caffeine, spicy food and alcohol as they are all heat producing substances and contribute to hot flashes.
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