Hot flushes (flashes) are episodes of intense warm feeling on the face and upper trunk. They are due to instability of regulation of skin vessels, mostly in menopausal women. Flushes are supposedly caused by hormonal changes in menopause, but exact mechanism still remains unclear.
Symptoms
* Hot flushes may appear every hour or only few times a week. They may last for few to several minutes and may vary in intensity a lot.
* Flushing appears on the face, chest, back of the neck, and eventually spreads over the entire body.
* Redness or sweating may be barely notable, or prominent.
* If they happen only at nigh, they are called night sweats - they may disturb sleeping.
* Flashes may appear few years before menopause, and may last few years after it.
* Young menstruating women may experience hot or cold flashes in premenstrual period.
* Fainting may occur in strong attacks.
* Mood swings and depression are common.
* There is no symptoms between flushing episodes.
* Long term flushing may result in acne rosacea.
* Men may experience hot flushes in anti-testosteron therapy of prostatic cancer.
Causes of Hot Flushes
Beside menopause, following conditions may be related with hot flushes:
* Carcinoid
* Cancers: medullary ccinoma of thyroid, pancreatic carcinoma, pheochromocytoma (cancer of adrenal medulla), brain tumors,
* Medications: nitrates, tamoxifen, raloxifene, anti-androgens (e.g. cyproterone), danazol
* psychic instability
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