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Has an abrupt, warm sensation ever struck your body’s upper region? Was this sudden rise in temperature accompanied by shivering and heavy sweat?
This phenomenon, believe it or not, is a common medical condition that predominantly affects women after menopause. It is called a hot flash.
Do men get hot flashes too? While less common when compared to women, hot flashes in men do occur. The symptoms are similar across genders.
There are a variety of reasons why this condition may arise, and it’s important to get to the root cause of the issue if you want to treat it.
To illustrate the point, women develop hot flashes more frequently because of the rapid onset of aging that happens post-menopause.
Conversely, men—who follow a slower timeline due to the natural slowness of testosterone decline—can develop hot flashes for vastly different reasons.
Let’s look into the mechanism behind hot flashes in men, what causes hot flashes in males, and what can be done to treat hot flashes and the medical conditions that may occur because of male hot flashes.
Understanding Hot Flashes: A Brief Overview
As alluded to earlier, a hot flash is a sudden and transient episode characterized by an intense feeling of warmth spreading over the body, particularly concentrated on the face, neck, and chest regions.
Clinically termed as a vasomotor symptom, this sensation begins when false signals get sent to the hypothalamus—or the brain’s thermal control center.
The signals tell the brain that it’s overheated. The direct result of this is the dilation of blood vessels near the skin’s surface, causing an increase in blood flow and the skin to redden—which are the telltale indications of a hot flash episode.
Following these initial symptoms, there’ll be an accompanying spike in perspiration as the body tries to cool itself down. While these episodes aren’t life-threatening, they can indicate body problems that you’d have to address.
Symptoms of Male Hot Flashes: What to Look Out For
Experiencing odd symptoms, and unsure whether they’re hot flashes? (not to be mistaken for hot flushes).
In men, these are the symptoms you have to watch out for:
- Sudden feeling of warmth in the face, upper body, or neck
- Reddening in the skin
- Intense perspiration
- Cold shiver or chills
- Heart palpitations
If you’re experiencing these symptoms frequently (affected men can get hot flashes 6 to 10 times a day), then it’s best to talk with a doctor about your symptoms.
They’ll be able to find the underlying cause of your hot flashes and treat it accordingly. If you’re unsure of what causes hot flashes, read below.
Why Do Men Experience Hot Flashes?
Hot flashes can have multiple underlying causes. Three of the primary causes of hot flashes in this demographic include:
- Testosterone deficiency
- Side effects of treatments
- Andropause (male menopause)
- Prostate cancer
Just like how women experience hot flashes because of hormonal imbalances, so too do men.
When the body’s total testosterone count falls below 300 ng/dL—which is considered to be the lower limit of healthy testosterone levels—a patient can be considered to have low testosterone.
The likely culprit of this is the hypothalamus sending mixed signals to the body. However, the underlying mechanism is still being studied.
Certain treatments, namely androgen deprivation therapy, also increase the risk of causing hot flashes in males. In fact, over 80% of ADT patients in one study have reported having hot flashes.
These episodes occur multiple times a day and last a few minutes each, with the longest episode being 20 minutes.
People with prostate cancer and men receiving treatment for prostate cancer also report experiencing hot flashes. According to cancer.net, over 75% of men with prostate cancer treatment care are experiencing symptoms of hot flashes.
Given all this, there are many factors that cause hot flashes. And while it’s not immediately life-threatening, it can lead to complications if left untreated.
Risk Factors of Untreated Hot Flashes in Men
Men and women are at risk of a slew of health complications if they don’t treat the underlying condition that’s causing their hot flashes.
Here are some of the potential health risks that come with a male hot flash:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Sleep disruptions
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Reduced quality of life
If hot flashes are starting to get debilitating, it’s important to relieve hot flashes with the help of a medical professional.
Treatment Options for Hot Flashes in Men
Fortunately, hot flashes are fixable with the right management plan.
Here are some ways you can keep hot flash episodes to a minimum:
- Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)
- Antidepressants like paroxetine and venlafaxine
- Gabapentin
- Clonidine
- Acupuncture and deep breathing exercises
Besides the treatment plans above, you can also adopt new lifestyle changes to combat these hot flashes. These include:
- Wearing light, airy clothing
- Staying in cool environments
- Avoiding spicy and bad food
- Moderating alcohol intake
- Limiting coffee intake
- Cutting smoking habits
- Losing weight
Certain supplements like Ginseng, vitamin E, and black cohosh may also help relieve hot flashes in men.
Before making any drastic life changes, talk to a doctor before proceeding with it.
Seek Help to Overcome Hormonal Imbalances at Atlanta, Georgia’s Leading Clinic for Men’s Health
Hot flashes are a concerning symptom that can indicate a wide range of underlying medical disorders. It may not be immediately harmful on its own, but it can cause grave health complications if left untreated.
If you’re currently suffering from this symptom and find it debilitating, it’s crucial to get some help. The medical professionals from Atlanta’s leading male health clinic at Priority Men’s Medical Center are equipped with the best team and the most robust medical facilities and equipment to help you overcome your unique medical condition.
We provide a range of male health treatment plans that help to address the underlying causes that lead to hot flashes. This includes, but is not limited to, ED treatment, PE treatment, Low T treatment, andropause treatment and more customized healthy living programs.
Schedule an appointment with us today and get the help you deserve, your initial consultation and first treatment are completely free.
