September 27, 2023 – Hot flashes are widely considered a symptom of menopause that may impact quality of life enough to be price treating. Now, two recent studies add to the growing body of evidence that hot flashes could also be a good more vital reason to see a physician: The sudden feeling of warmth generally is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, heart disease and stroke.
Research presented on the North American Menopause Society's annual meeting in Philadelphia this week shows that hot flashes that occur during sleep could also be an early indicator of a girl's increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found a link between a blood biomarker called beta-amyloid 42/40, which can indicate brain changes related to a future diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, in response to CNN reported.
Nearly 250 women participated within the study through the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Illinois. According to CNN, the ladies were between 45 and 67 years old and wore a sweat monitor for 3 nights to record hot flashes.
Hot flashes are the sudden warm feeling within the upper body that sometimes causes sweating and are essentially the most common symptom of menopause, the period during which a girl's periods grow to be irregular and eventually stop. The feeling of warmth most frequently occurs on the face, neck and chest Mayo Clinic. The average age for full menopause within the United States is 51, but it may well occur earlier or later.
Hot flashes might also be a warning sign of heart disease, in response to a second recent study presented by University of Pittsburgh researchers on the meeting. The frequency and intensity of hot flashes in the course of the day were measured using devices worn by women that would detect how much electricity could be conducted within the skin. The researchers linked the measurement to a marker within the blood called high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, which is an indication of inflammation and, in response to other research, indicates an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
“Because heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, studies like this are particularly valuable,” said Dr. Stephanie Faubion, a physician on the Menopause Society and a physician on the Mayo Clinic, said in an announcement opinion. “Health care professionals need to ask their patients about their experiences with hot flashes, as these not only affect their quality of life but can also indicate other risk factors.”
None of the studies have been published yet, CNN reported.