When it comes to hot flashes, women will go to extremes to get rid of them. This often means that they(you) will seek care from multiple medical professionals as well as trying all sorts of pills, potions, & powders only to find that THE HOT FLASHES RAGE ON!
So, what to do? How about trying to cope by having an evening cocktail or two +? Although you may feel that it mellows you out and makes what you are experiencing more tolerable, the truth is: IT CAN THEM WORSE!
Drinking alcohol can trigger hot flashes as can stress. So, should you still have that glass of wine? Here are the pros and cons:
- Moderate drinking (less than 1 drink a day for women) can have health benefits BUT it can also lead to dependence and disturbed sleep.
- Common sleep disturbances from alcohol include what’s known as Maintenance Sleep Insomnia which means that although you may fall asleep easily, you wake up in the night and have difficulty falling asleep again.
- When you wake up you are more prone to being aware of your hot flashes; hence feeling 1) tired 2) hot 3) sweaty 4) annoyed.
- Drinking increases the risk for all cancers, organ damage, bone mass loss, depression and anxiety, falls, and imparied cognition (e.g. poor memory, confusion, brain fog).
- Drinking can improve risk for heart disease; however, the type of alcohol consumed factors into this consideration
One of our favorite case studies is a woman we’ll call SV. SV is a 49 y/o caucasian woman who consumed 1-2 glasses of white wine daily. She was experiencing what she called severe hot flashes and maintenance insomnia for 4+ months. As part of her healthcare plan, we recommended a detox which required abstention from alcohol. So, she took out the alcohol 1 week before the detox even began & BOOM…hot flashes pretty much subsided. She reported they were not even occurring daily anymore. Wow! Right? AND, AS A BONUS: She started sleeping through the night PLUS she lost a few pounds was less anxious!
So, not only does reduction in alcohol aid in the reduction and elimination of hot flashes and night sweats, it also helps you sleep better, maintain a healthier weight, and aid in mood regulation! Who doesn’t want all that? We know we do!
Naturopathic medicine in San Diego is a distinct system of medicine that skillfully combines natural therapeutic traditions with modern science to restore and optimize health. For more information about menopause treatment in San Diego or to schedule an appointment with a Naturopathic doctor in San Diego, please call NaturopathicRX at (858) 914-3444.