Can anxiety make menopause hot flashes worse?
Yes, anxiety can make menopause hot flashes feel worse. Research suggests women who are more prone to anxiety symptoms may have more frequent or more intense hot flashes during perimenopause. Part of why this happens is that the hypothalamus, your brain’s thermostat, is involved in both temperature regulation and the stress response. When hormone shifts make that system more sensitive, anxiety can add sweating, flushing, and a racing heart on top of the hot flash itself.
It can also turn into a loop. A hot flash can catch you off guard, make you feel anxious, and that stress response can make the episode feel stronger or more upsetting. Poor sleep and stress can pile on too.
Here at Alloy, we have a helpful explainer on the overlap between the two: Hot flashes and anxiety, what’s the connection?
If hot flashes are really bothering you, menopausal hormone therapy is considered the most effective treatment for hot flashes and night sweats. Options at Alloy include estradiol pills, estradiol spray, and estradiol gel. If you’d rather avoid hormones, low-dose paroxetine is an FDA-approved non-hormonal option for hot flashes and night sweats. You can also start with our online assessment.
Estradiol Pill
Starting at $39.99 /month
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