How Long Do Hot Flashes Last?

Hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause. More than three-quarters of American women suffer from them during the years before menopause, which is defined medically as going 12 months without a menstrual period.

Most women just suffer through these sudden and intense onslaughts of heat, hoping they will pass quickly. In most cases, that's exactly what happens. The average length of a hot flash is somewhere between 30 seconds and five minutes.

Hot flashes are most frequent in the period just before menopause. The intensity and severity of hot flashes varies greatly. Some women get only a few hot flashes around the time of the menopause transition. Other will suffer the sweats for many years, and a very small percentage will get occasional hot flashes for the rest of their lives.

Women who enter menopause early because of surgery or an illness tend to more severe and long-lasting hot flashes than women who enter menopause naturally.

Unfortunately the science of hot flashes (yes, there is such a thing) still doesn't have the answer most of us want to know: when will my hot flashes stop?

In the meantime, here are some things you can do to alleviate the frequency and severity of hot flashes:

• Exercise three times or more a week. That appears to reduce stress, which can trigger hot flashes in some women.
• Layer your clothing. Wear a lightweight top under a jacket, for example. That way you can pull the jacket off when you feel a heat wave coming on.
• Keep room temperature low. Many women find they are more likely to have hot flashes in a hot room.
• Stop smoking. Smokers have more hot flashes than non-smokers.
• Lose weight. Heavier women have more hot flashes than thinner women.
• Stay hydrated. A glass of water by your bed at night can cool you down if a hot flash strikes when you are sleeping.