How many people suffer from hot flashes?

Discovery Health

About 50 million women in the United States alone, experience hot flashes. But some men also experience hot flashes.

Menopause, obviously, is not the reason that men have hot flashes. Their hot flashes usually result from a drop in testosterone. This can result from aging, but usually is due to medication that affects testosterone production, or from a surgical removal of the testes.

If a man is experiencing hot flashes, he should consult a doctor. A deficiency of testosterone is often the cause, and a simple blood test can verify that.

Judy Caplan on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Nutrition & Dietetics

Most women in their menopausal years suffer from some degree of hot flashes. Some women have very intense debilitating flashes while others sail through barely noticing their effects. Many OBGYN's say that over 90% of their patients go on hormonal replacement at one time or another during their menopausal years. Again, most women do experience some type of hot flashes.

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Menopause

If you are a woman in your 40s and 50s, you might notice that your periods start to change as menopause approaches. During menopause, the menstrual cycle becomes less predictable, and many women start to experience uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and/or changes in mood.

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