Greetings [$fname],
It is almost June and the heat is fast approaching. With 100 degree days already here, many of
my patients are wondering if it is the heat that is affecting them or are they having a hot flash?
The best way to beat a hot flash is to identify the things that trigger them and then try to avoid those triggers.
Keeping a record of when they occur, what you were eating or doing, or how you were feeling at the time can
help you plan ways to lower the heat. Many women find that stress tops the charts as a trigger. Was that hot flash at work a random event,
or were you feeling under pressure at the time? Did you work straight through the day without a break?
One solution - ease the pressure. Give yourself more time to plan your work, to rehearse your presentation,
to deliver your assignments, to arrive where you're going. If you are involved in several meetings a day, for example,
give yourself a chance to relax and cool off between sessions. And plan your schedule so you avoid meetings or decision making when
you're most likely to be in a sweat....easier said than done!
Other hot flash triggers:
- alcohol
- caffeine
- diet pills
- spicy food
- hot food
- hot tubs
- saunas
- hot showers
- hot beds
- hot rooms
- hot weather
- smoking
Hot flash survival tips:
- Dress in layers, so you can take off one layer at a time as you get warmer.
- Don't wear synthetics and silk. Cotton, linen, and rayon will help keep you cooler and will save you money on dry cleaning bills.
- Choose open-neck shirts.
- Drink plenty of ice water so you can cool down your insides.
- Where possible, lower the thermostat. Turning on a ceiling fan can also cool down the temperature in a room.
- Wear cotton pajamas or a nightgown. If you perspire a lot at night, your nightclothes are easier to change than the sheets.
- Use cotton sheets only, not synthetics.
- Take a cool shower before going to bed.
Let me know about other tips that have worked for you and I will share next month!
And, remember, it is time once again to do your monthly Breast Self-Exam. We are sending our
monthly "Love Note" because we care about you and your breast health.
Click here
to learn more about how and when to do Breast Self-Exams.
Best regards,
Belinda Barclay-White, MD
www.AZBreastnet.com
