43 Million Hot Flashes

There are 43 million women of menopausal age (45-54) in this country alone and if my conversations with friends on both coasts are any indication, the collective hot flashes of this demographic group must be contributing to global warming.  Now that I’m one of them, I’m noticing other “members” of this tribe wherever I go. 

At a movie theatre with my husband just last week, I pointed out two women near us who were fanning themselves. “See?” I said to my husband, “it’s like a secret society. The fan is our identity card.”  And on a recent flight to the east coast, when I staked out a place directly beneath an air vent in the galley to cool off,  the flight attendant gave me a knowing look. “I know what you’re doing…” she whispered.

Friends of mine who are taking even low doses of estrogen tell me that HRT has diminished or even eliminated their hot flashes and they’re sleeping better as a result.  However, if you’re like me and can’t, or don’t want to, take synthetic hormones, finding an alternative solution is all about trial and error. I pick up tips and follow-up on suggestions whenever I can.

An example?  A friend of a friend of mine said that a product called PhytoB has greatly reduced the number of hot flashes she was experiencing and as a result, is sleeping better. This was music to my ears so I immediately checked it out. There are a number of websites where you can purchase it. However, before you buy, be sure to review the list of ingredients with someone knowledgeable about natural remedies. I did and I found out that one of the Phyto B ingredients – Licorice Root – can raise blood pressure. So, if you’re taking medicine to keep your BP in check, then this product probably isn’t for you.