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Physiology of hot flashes.

¹Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA. aa2613@wayne.edu

American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council

|June 16, 2001

Summary

Hot flashes in menopause are linked to a narrowed thermoneutral zone, not core body temperature changes. This reduced zone, along with increased sympathetic activity, triggers these common menopausal symptoms.

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Area of Science:

Reproductive Endocrinology
Thermoregulation Physiology

Background:

Hot flashes are a prevalent symptom of menopause, characterized by heat-dissipation responses like sweating and vasodilation.
While associated with estrogen withdrawal, estrogen levels alone do not differentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic women.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the thermoregulatory mechanisms underlying hot flashes.
To explore the role of the thermoneutral zone and sympathetic activation in triggering menopausal hot flashes.

Main Methods:

Utilized a telemetry pill to measure core body temperature changes.
Assessed the thermoneutral zone in symptomatic and asymptomatic women.
Examined central sympathetic activation levels.

Main Results:

Symptomatic women exhibited a virtually nonexistent thermoneutral zone, unlike asymptomatic women with a normal zone (approx. 0.4°C).
Elevated central sympathetic activation was observed in symptomatic women.
Small temperature increases within a reduced thermoneutral zone appear to trigger hot flashes.

Conclusions:

Hot flashes are triggered by minor temperature fluctuations within a significantly narrowed thermoneutral zone in symptomatic women.
Reduced thermoneutral zone and increased sympathetic activity are key factors in hot flash generation.
Clonidine may alleviate hot flashes by reducing sympathetic activation and widening the thermoneutral zone.

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