Hot flushes and night sweats

A hot flush is a sudden wave of heat. It usually starts in the face, neck and chest. Your skin reddens, you sweat, your heart may beat faster, and afterwards you can feel chilled. It lasts a few minutes. At night the same thing can soak your clothes and sheets and wake you up. The cause is falling oestrogen, which makes the brain more sensitive to small changes in body temperature.

Flushes can go on for several years, longer for some women, but they usually fade with time.

• Dress in thin layers you can take off quickly.
• Choose cotton clothes and bedding.
• Keep the room cool, with water and a fan nearby.
• Notice what sets yours off. Common triggers are spicy food, caffeine, alcohol, smoking and stress.
• Move regularly, and stop smoking if you smoke.

If flushes are disrupting your life, you do not have to tough it out. Hormone therapy works best, though it does not suit everyone. A doctor can also talk you through non-hormonal medicines. Cognitive behavioural therapy will not stop flushes, but it can make them much less disruptive.

The contents and effects of natural products sold in pharmacies and online are often unproven, and some clash with other medicines. Show anything you plan to take to a doctor or pharmacist first. And if heavy sweating comes with weight loss or fever, do not put it down to your age.