Section 1: What is Hot Flash?

So, what exactly is a hot flash?It’s a momentary sensation of heat, sweating, flushing, anxiety, and chills. Women who experience hot flashes can experience one or more of these sensations at once. Hot flashes tend to happen daily. And about a third of women have more than 10 hot flashes per day. Hot flashes feel mild for some, but for others, they are more severe and may seriously disrupt day-to-day life.

Understanding Hot Flash Intensity

Mild Hot Flashes

Mild hot flashes are brief and may only cause a slight feeling of warmth.

Moderate Hot Flashes

Moderate hot flashes cause a noticeable increase in body temperature and may involve sweating.

Severe Hot Flashes

Severe hot flashes can be intense, causing significant discomfort, and may disrupt sleep or daily activities.

Hot Flashes vary in intensity. A hot flash is considered mild when it makes you hot but not sweating; moderate when you experience heat and sweating but are not overwhelmed; and severe when you are so hot and sweaty that you must stop what you’re doing at that moment.

Many women aren’t aware that hot flashes generally begin between the ages of 40 and 45 and tend to be the most intense around their mid-to-late 40s. The duration of hot flashes last—both individual episodes and the symptoms in general—varies depending on the individual.

Generally, a hot flash lasts between 1 and 5 minutes. In a small percentage of women, they can last longer, up to 30 minutes. Most women who experience hot flashes do so for between 5-7 years. For some, it’s less; for others, it’s more. It can vary based on your race and ethnicity, too. Black women tend to experience hot flashes more frequently and for more years than White, Asian, and Latina women.