Author: Gary Jackson

Can Alcohol Make Your Hot Flashes Feel Worse During Menopause?

Typically, alcohol withdrawal symptoms happen for heavier drinkers. Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session. Make sure you drink enough fluids before, during and after drinking alcohol to avoid dehydration. Sports drinks and bouillon are good choices to help your body replace the water, salt and potassium you lost when you were drunk. The body’s temperature can rise as it tries to kill off a viral or bacterial infection. If an infection is the cause of your hot flashes, you may also experience other symptoms such as fatigue, joint aches, and sweating.

Hot flashes and excessive sweating are just one of the many menopausal symptoms. Not only does heavy drinking increase the risk of osteoporosis, but it can also increase a woman’s risk for falling and fractures. The bone loss can’t be reversed, and severe fractures may require surgery. This risk exists even for women who have just one serving of alcohol per day. Women who drank alcohol at least once a month were less likely to have hot flashes than women who abstained entirely. However, certain food groups also have benefits when it comes to helping with the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and detoxification.

Beyond vasomotor symptoms, be aware that there are certain risks inherent to alcohol that become heightened during menopause.

Red wine is also seen as one of the most common triggers of hot flashes. If you struggle with alcohol abuse or alcohol use disorder and experience alcohol withdrawal syndrome, or AWS, you may have many uncomfortable symptoms. Hot flashes and sweating are only two of many signs of AWS that you may experience. If you have been experiencing hot flashes and you are not sure what is causing them, contact your healthcare provider.

Sometimes, a person may appear to have alcohol intolerance but react to another ingredient in a drink. Doctors may use allergy tests to determine whether alcohol is the issue. “Now is the time to really lean into the healthy habits,” says Dr. Kling.

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But there are many things we do know about alcohol use that can, along with personal observation, provide a useful roadmap for navigating drinking and vasomotor symptoms. SELF spoke with experts on what to know and what to look out for. With alcohol intake, the blood vessels in the skin tend to widen when the heart rate speeds up.

• Some individuals could improve their symptoms by limiting the amount of alcohol they consume.
• It is possible for males to experience hot flashes as a result of hypogonadism (low testosterone).
• Drinking alcohol before bed is also more likely to encourage night sweats – nocturnal hot flashes.
• Medical professionals think that alcohol tricks your brain cells into thinking that you are warm.