“Could the duration of hot flashes during menopause be associated with hypothyroidism?”
Could the duration of hot flashes during menopause be associated with hypothyroidism?
Maria Jesus
While the seemingly simple answer would be to say that this has nothing to do with the fact that the duration of hot flashes during menopause is associated with hypothyroidism, it would be interesting to unpack some of the nuances as there is some connection between both problems and that would be worth considering.
Hot flashes begin with hormonal changes when ovarian activity stops. But it is true that there are women who don’t have them and others who do, some who have them more intense and frequent and others who have them more mildly, some women who have them during perimenopause and menopause only for a few years, in other cases they can persist for many years. .
There is more and more research linking menopausal hot flashes to inflammation, such that women with low-grade systemic inflammation experience hot flashes more often than those without it. On the other hand, although you don’t specify what type of hypothyroidism you have, it is true that thyroid function can also be impaired by inflammation. Therefore, in your case, it is necessary to evaluate whether you have low-grade systemic inflammation, which can not only affect your thyroid gland and the presence of hot flashes, but can also cause other imbalances in your body.
But what is low-grade systemic inflammation? It consists of increasing the amount of pro-inflammatory factors in the blood, as well as increasing the infiltration of macrophages and other inflammatory cells in the tissues. Unlike acute inflammation, low-grade systemic inflammation does not cause loss of function of infiltrated organs, but is closely associated with insulin resistance and its long-term cardiometabolic consequences: diabetes, hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia…
This pro-inflammatory state may be associated with the presence of bad habits: a diet deficient in essential micronutrients for immune regulation and/or an excess of processed foods (which alter the intestinal microbiota and increase intestinal permeability), a sedentary lifestyle, stress, insomnia, obesity… All of these stressful stimuli to the body, if sustained over time, are responsible for this pro-inflammatory systemic condition.
If you have this type of inflammation, it can contribute to poor thyroid function and hot flashes, as well as a predisposition to other long-term conditions.
Some recommendations for reducing low-grade systemic inflammation:
- Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Regular physical activity, especially strength training such as weight lifting, helps maintain muscle mass. Muscle mass protects against insulin resistance and inflammation. Fat, on the other hand, promotes inflammation and insulin resistance.
- Stress management: Practice stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga and deep relaxation.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol.
- Vitamin D: Sun exposure and vitamin D supplements can help maintain adequate levels. Vitamin D has among its many functions the regulation of the immune system.
- Balanced Diet: Eat a nutrient-dense, well-balanced diet rich in fresh, seasonal produce.
- Rest: Lack of sleep promotes low-grade systemic inflammation; in fact, melatonin (the hormone we secrete during sleep) plays a very powerful antioxidant role in the body. Establish a healthy routine for a good night’s sleep, such as going to bed and waking up at regular times, avoiding heavy meals at dinner, and reading or listening to music before bed. Minimize exposure to artificial light from TV screens, mobile devices or computers as they alter melatonin secretion.