Always Keep the Communication Lines Open with Your OBGYN

If you're going through menopause, it's almost a sure bet that you'll experience hot flashes at some point. Research has found that about 85% of women will experience hot flashes during menopause. Hot flashes can make you feel downright uncomfortable. In extreme circumstances, they can interfere with your life, making it difficult to sleep or carry out your daily routine.

Luckily, treatment is available to help you overcome hot flashes. In addition to the treatment prescribed by your doctor, here are three simple methods you can use to alleviate the discomfort associated with hot flashes.

Watch Your Diet

If you haven't been watching your diet, menopause will give you a good reason to start. Some of the foods you eat on a regular basis could be contributing to your hot flashes. Meat and spicy foods can cause you to have severe hot flashes during menopause. To control hot flashes, pass on the meat and the spicy foods. Instead, try adding more soy to your daily diet. Snacking on soy beans will help reduce the amount of hot flashes you experience during the day.

Control Your Stress Levels

Menopause causes your hormone levels to fluctuate continuously. As your body tries to adapt to the changes, your hormone levels will change, which means you could experience high levels of estrogen and low levels of progesterone. If that happens, you may experience additional stress as your body tries to realign the hormone levels.

These hormone fluctuations will cause you to experience additional hot flashes. You can alleviate the stress-related hot flashes by working to control your stress levels. Things like deep breathing, yoga, and daily exercise can all help reduce stress.

Increase Your Vitamin E Intake

If you're not getting adequate doses of vitamin E through the foods you eat, you might want to consider adding a vitamin supplement to your diet. Vitamin E helps control hot flashes in menopausal women. Some foods that are rich in Vitamin E include dark green leafy vegetables, tropical fruits and nuts. For maximum benefit, you should take a vitamin E supplement each day and add plenty of E rich foods to your diet.

If you're going through menopause treatment, it's important that you speak to your doctor about the treatment options that are available to you. In addition, to help alleviate the discomfort often associated with hot flashes, be sure to utilize the helpful tips provided above.