What Happens to Your Body During a Hot Flash?

Posted on September 11, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

A hot flash is a sudden warm feeling in the upper body, usually the most intense over the face, neck, and chest. Hot flashes are most commonly caused by menopause.

Menopause is when the menstrual period stops for good, with most women experiencing a hot flash about four and a half to five years after their last period. It is diagnosed after 12 months without having a menstrual period, vaginal bleeding, or spotting.

During a hot flash, a woman might feel like she is spiking a high fever, but physiologically, that isn’t what is happening. As women approach menopause and the ovaries begin to produce less estrogen, the hypothalamus, the brain’s internal thermostat, becomes hypersensitive to even small shifts in temperature.

When a woman experiences a hot flash, the body believes it is overheating, even when the actual temperature hasn’t changed much. In response to this, the body tries to cool down as blood vessels dilate, which is supposed to help dissipate some of that heat, triggering a sweating reflex.

How an individual woman experiences hot flashes varies greatly. Some women describe very mild symptoms, while others suffer from profuse sweating. Additionally, some women only have hot flashes during the day, while others have regular night sweats. According to the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, about four in five women experience hot flashes at some point during the menopause transition.

Common triggers of hot flashes include:

Alcohol

Caffeine

High sugar intake

High processed foods

Stress

Black women are more likely to experience more severe and longer-lasting symptoms, sometimes up to 11 years, and research shows that women with more severe, longer-lasting hot flashes and night sweats appear to be at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

For decades, hot flashes were blamed solely on the loss of estrogen, but that explanation left some questions unanswered because not every menopausal woman has night sweats. What’s more, it doesn’t explain why perimenopausal women experience hot flashes while they still produce estrogen.

Newer research has shown that when the brain recognizes that a woman’s estrogen levels are low, nerve cells in the hypothalamus called KNDy neurons become overactive, releasing neurotransmitters, which include kisspeptin, dynorphin, and neurokinin B.

For women in the middle of their hot flash years and the ten percent of menopausal women who continue to experience them, here are some strategies and tips that can help you manage your hot flashes:

Keep your core body temperature as cool as possible

Keep cool at night

Watch what you eat and drink

Refrain from smoking

Maintain a healthy weight

Reduce your stress

Exercise regularly

When you feel a hot flash coming on, take several slow, deep breaths and try to relax

Drink a glass of cold water and sit calmly until it passes

Wear layers you can easily take off when you feel yourself getting hot

Once a hot flash starts, there is no instant cure. Talk to your healthcare professional about medications and complementary therapies that make the most sense for you and your symptoms.

If you are experiencing hot flashes due to menopause, the most effective way to relieve the discomfort from them is to take estrogen, but taking it carries risks.

Other treatments for hot flashes can include:

Medications

Antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, and other medications

Hormone therapy

Mind and body approaches

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Hypnosis

Mindful meditation

Acupuncture

Dietary supplements

At Jamaica Hospital’s Department of Women’s Health Services, we are passionate about meeting the various needs of women in our community. We proudly treat women from all walks of life and provide a warm and welcoming environment. To learn more about our OB/GYN services or to make an appointment, contact us at 718-291-3276.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

National AFib Awareness Month

Posted on September 9, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

September is National AFib Awareness Month, a month dedicated to promoting education, early detection, and improved care for AFib.

AFib stands for atrial fibrillation, a type of arrhythmia, or abnormal heartbeat. During AFib, the heart’s upper chambers, or the atria, beat chaotically and irregularly. They beat out of sync with the lower chambers, called ventricles.

Afib can lead to blood clots in the heart. It also increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.

Afib usually isn’t life-threatening, but it is a serious medical condition that needs proper treatment to prevent serious health issues.

There are many symptoms of AFib, including:

Feelings of a fast, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat
Chest pain
Dizziness
Fatigue
Lightheadedness
Reduced ability to exercise
Shortness of breath
Weakness

People can experience three types of Afib, including:

Paroxysmal AFib
Persistent AFib
Long-standing persistent AFib

The most common cause of AFib is problems with the heart’s structure. Other health problems and heart diseases that can cause AFib include:

A congenital heart defect
Sick sinus syndrome
Obstructive sleep apnea
Heart attack
High blood pressure
Lung diseases, including pneumonia
Coronary artery disease
Thyroid diseases
Infections from viruses

Many factors can increase your risk of AFib, including:

Age
Caffeine, nicotine, or illegal drug use
Drinking too much alcohol
Changes in the level of body minerals
Family history
Long-term health conditions
Obesity
Some medicines and supplements

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce heart disease risk and prevent AFib. Some basic heart-healthy tips include:

Controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes
Not smoking or using tobacco
Eating a diet that is low in salt and saturated fat
Exercising at least 30 minutes a day at least five days a week
Getting at least seven to nine hours of sleep a day
Maintaining a healthy weight
Reducing and managing stress

A healthcare provider can diagnose AFib by examining you and asking questions about your medical history and symptoms. Tests may be done to look for conditions causing irregular heartbeats such as heart disease or thyroid disease, including:

Blood tests
ECG or EKG
Holter monitor
Event recorder
Implantable loop recorder
Exercise stress tests
Chest X-ray

The goals of AFib treatment are to reset and control the heartbeat and prevent blood clots. Treatment for AFib depends on how long you’ve had it, your symptoms, and the cause of the irregular heartbeat. Afib treatment can include:

Medications
Cardioversion therapy
Surgery or catheter procedures

If you are experiencing any symptoms of Afib, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Cardiology Department by calling (718) 206-7100. If you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 911 right away.

National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

Posted on September 3, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, a month that addresses the challenges patients, their families, and caregivers experience and provides an opportunity to increase public knowledge and understanding of sickle cell disease and traits.

Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders that affect hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen through the body. It is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States. The disease gets its name from the abnormal crescent or “sickle” shape that some red blood cells develop. These abnormal red blood cells block blood flow, resulting in recurring episodes of pain.

Sickle cell disease is a lifelong disease affecting more than 100,000 people in the United States and 20 million worldwide. In the U.S., most people who have sickle cell disease are of African ancestry or identify themselves as Black. About one in 13 Black or African American babies are born with the sickle cell trait, and about one in every 365 Black or African American babies are born with sickle cell disease. Many people who come from Hispanic, Southern European, Middle Eastern, or Asian Indian backgrounds also have sickle cell disease.

There are several symptoms of sickle cell disease. Early symptoms can include:

Jaundice- a condition that causes the color of the skin or whites of the eyes to turn yellow

Extreme tiredness

Painful swelling of the hands and feet

Many serious symptoms and complications of sickle disease can include:

Episodes of severe pain

Anemia symptoms, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, and an irregular heartbeat

Fever

Acute chest syndrome

Stroke

Priapism

Avascular necrosis

Pulmonary hypertension

Organ damage

Leg ulcers

Gallstones

Deep vein thrombosis

Pregnancy complications

Vision problems

Frequent infections

There are many ways to manage and treat sickle cell disease, including:

Medicines

Blood transfusions

Blood and bone marrow transplant

Gene therapies

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

Your healthcare team will probably include a doctor specializing in blood diseases called a hematologist.

If you need help managing symptoms of sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait, schedule an appointment with a hematologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Internal Medicine at (718) 206-7001.

Four Key Risk Factors Linked to 99% of Heart Attacks

Posted on September 1, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Cardiovascular diseases, such as a heart attack, are the leading causes of death around the world.

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced or blocked. The blockage is usually caused by a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the heart’s arteries.

Most heart attacks are caused by coronary artery disease, which is the most common cause of death in the United States.

The warning signs of a heart attack include:

Chest discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes or doesn’t go away and returns

Pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, and stomach

Shortness of breath

Other signs of a heart attack can include:

Breaking out in a cold sweat

Nausea

A rapid or irregular heartbeat

Unusual tiredness

Heartburn or indigestion

Lightheadedness

According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, more than 99% of people who experience a heart attack previously had at least one of four major cardiovascular risk factors that were above ideal healthy levels. These risk factors include:

High blood pressure

High cholesterol

High fasting glucose or high blood sugar

Tobacco use

For this study, researchers analyzed medical data from more than 9 million adults in South Korea and almost 7,000 adults in the United States for up to 20 years, allowing scientists to see multiple measurements for blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and smoking exposure before a participant had their first cardiovascular issue.

At the conclusion of the study, researchers discovered that more than 99% of the study participants had at least one risk factor at unhealthy levels before experiencing a heart attack. What’s more, scientists found that high blood pressure was the biggest culprit of the four major risk factors, affecting more than 95% of South Korean participants and over 93% of U.S. participants.

Fortunately, these risk factors are categorized as modifiable, meaning they are potentially preventable. If high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar can be reduced, as well as eliminating the use of tobacco, there is a possibility that the risk of heart attack can be decreased.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of a heart attack, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Cardiology Department by calling (718) 206-7100. If you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 911 right away.