“How bad can a hot flash be? You’re just a little warm” is something too many men have asked me. Whether you get them on your period, you’re perimenopausal or menopausal, you know that hot flashes feel much worse than being just “a little warm.” They can make you feel dizzy and disoriented. They can make you feel like you need to rip your shirt off even when you know the thermostat is at a perfect 67 degrees. They can be so disabling that you have to lie down and stop what you’re doing for a while. If you’re facing truly debilitating hot flashes, there are medications you can take, but you should also be aware of some of the less intrusive, more sustainable options. Here are smart and low-maintenance ways to take care of hot flashes.
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Avoid spicy food
Spicy foods can cause the internal body temperature of those who aren’t even going through menopause to spike. The chemicals present in certain spicy foods, especially chili peppers, triggers the central nervous system and tricks certain receptors in your skin that respond to heat into thinking it’s hot outside.
