Hot Flashes

At Gaya Wellness, we don’t tell women to “just deal with it.” We dig deeper into the hormonal, lifestyle, and stress factors driving hot flashes, then create personalized care plans that bring relief, balance, and sanity back into your life.

What Are Hot Flashes?

A hot flash is a sudden, intense wave of heat that typically starts in the chest and face, then spreads through the body. It often comes with sweating, flushing, and a rapid heartbeat—and can last from a few seconds to several minutes.

Hot flashes are most common during perimenopause and menopause, but they can also show up due to stress, certain medications, or medical conditions. Night sweats are the nocturnal cousin of hot flashes, and they love to ruin your sleep.

Translation? You’re not imagining things. These fiery episodes are real, and they’re your body’s way of saying: “Hormones are shifting—please pay attention.”

What Shapes Your Hot Flash Experience?

Not all hot flashes are created equal. Frequency and intensity can be influenced by:

Hormonal Fluctuations

Declining estrogen throws off your brain’s thermostat, triggering “false alarms” that make your body think it’s overheating.

Stress & Cortisol Levels

High stress ramps up cortisol, which can make hot flashes more frequent and intense.

Lifestyle Factors

Alcohol, caffeine, spicy food, smoking, and lack of sleep can all throw gasoline on the fire.

Medications & Health Conditions

Antidepressants, cancer treatments, and thyroid issues can all contribute.

Genetics

Family history can play a role in how long hot flashes stick around.

How Hot Flashes Feel in Real Life

Every woman’s experience is unique, but common symptoms include:

Fatigue

Sudden, overwhelming heat in the upper body.

Mood

Excessive sweating, sometimes followed by chills.

Cravings

A racing or pounding heartbeat.

Belly

Night sweats that interrupt sleep.

Trouble

Anxiety or irritability during or after a flash.

Confidence

Fatigue and brain fog from disrupted rest.

For some women, hot flashes are occasional annoyances. For others, they’re daily (or nightly) battles that disrupt energy, sleep, mood, and confidence.

What to Expect as a Patient

At Gaya Wellness, we believe hot flashes are not something you should have to “tough out.” Here’s how we help you regain control:

Investigate: Finding the Triggers
  • Comprehensive hormone testing (estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, cortisol).
  • Lifestyle and stress assessments.
  • Review of medications and health history to uncover hidden causes.
Restore: Personalized Solutions
  • Hormone Balancing – HRT or other support tailored to your biology.
  • Lifestyle Adjustments – Realistic changes like cooling sleep environments, moderating alcohol/caffeine, and adding movement.
  • Stress & Sleep Support – Mindfulness, breathwork, and strategies for better rest.
  • Supplements & Integrative Care – Evidence-based options like black cohosh, ashwagandha, and phytoestrogens combined with medical guidance.
Thrive: Long-Term Relief & Support
  • Ongoing follow-ups to adjust your plan as your needs shift.
  • Virtual-first care that actually listens—no rushed visits, no dismissals.
  • Compassionate guidance that helps you feel empowered, not overwhelmed.

The Bottom Line

Hot flashes may feel like your body’s personal volcano, but they’re not something you have to suffer through. With the right care, you can cool the heat, reclaim your sleep, and get back to feeling like yourself again.

At Gaya Wellness, we cut through the jargon and provide solutions that work for you—rooted in science, delivered with compassion, and sprinkled with a little sass. Because let’s be real: you deserve better than “just deal with it.”

Your hormones might be stirring the pot, but they don’t get to run the show. With the right support, you can move through this phase with balance, confidence, and maybe even a few laughs along the way.