More than three-quarters of American women are believed to suffer from hot flashes during menopause. In response to the conditions prevalence there is also a number of effective but costly treatment options available. But, how can you cure hot flashes without breaking the bank? Here are five of the best and cheapest ways to control hot flashes.
Water
We are recommended to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to ensure that the body stays properly hydrated. When suffering from hot flashes it becomes especially important to keep a glass handy. This is because water reduces your body temperature and regulates all your bodily processes. By keeping cool you will be a step closer to alleviating the problem of hot flashes.
Exercise
Keeping a good exercise routine is beneficial at any age but this becomes especially true during menopause. A minimum of 30 minutes of exercise each day is recommended by experts. This can be anything from:
- Walking
- Cycling
- Running
- Weight-training
- Swimming
These five exercises can have a significant impact on your hot flashes, just make sure that you exercise three hours before bed time, so that your body has time to relax and prepare for sleep. All these exercises are good for menopause in general with swimming aiding osteoporosis, running releasing stress and tension and weight-training boosting testosterone production.
"Me" Time
One of the major factors that accompanies menopause is stress, and with stress comes the increased likelihood of suffering from hot flashes. Make sure you get time to relax and de-stress. Doing yoga, getting a massage, or just sitting alone in the house reading a book will help to balance your levels of stress and anxiety.
Diet
What you eat has a direct correlation to how you deal with menopause. Stay away from spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol and delve into the world of berries and fruit, increasing your calcium and iron intake. Milk, clams, sardines, broccoli, fish, poultry, nuts and grains are thought to be beneficial for alleviating hot flashes.
Breathing
It sounds too simple to be true but trust us, a solid breathing rhythm can be the difference between a balanced and unbalanced body. Breathe deeply and slowly, particularly if you feel a hot flash coming on. Through the expansion of the ribcage your blood temperature will become regulated and your stress relieved.
Final Thoughts
It is often a mixture of lifestyle changes and natural supplements that women find most effective for alleviating their hot flashes. These are five cheap ways of curing hot flashes, but for more information read about more inexpensive cures for hot flashes.
Sources
- Sikon, Andrea and Holly Thacker M.D. "Treatment for Menopausal Hot Flashes". Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. July 2004: 71 (7).
- "Hot flashes ... in January". Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2004: 170 (1).
- Miller, Heather and Rose Maria Li, M.D. "Measuring Hot Flashes: Summary of a National Institutes of Health Workshop". Conference report. Mayo Clinic. June 2004: 79.