Exercise can diminish the severity of hot flashes during menopause, according to the latest study (published in The Journal of Physiology). Hot flashes are the most common symptom of a woman's menopause and are characterized by feelings of strong heat, reddening of the skin, sweating and reduced brain blood flow.
In order to determine the characteristics of hot flashes and the effects of exercise, Dr. Helen Jones and colleagues from the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences at Liverpool John Moores University, enrolled 21 healthy symptomatic post-menopausal women, out of which 14 women undertook a gym-based exercise program that included treadmill, bike, rower and cross trainer for about 4 months, while others made no changes to their daily routine.
Researchers evaluated the women's hot flashes by placing the women in a hot water suit to stimulate a hot flash and recorded their physiological reactions. After a follow-up of four months, the team evaluated the amount and intensity of hot flashes and found:
- When hot flashes occurred among the exercise group, the amount of sweating was considerably diminished.
- Blood flow to the skin diminished by 9% and 7% respectively, at the chest and on the forearms.
- Blood flow in the brain was reduced.
On the contrary, participants who remained inactive accounted for very little difference in the severity of hot flashes.
Dr. Jones comments, "Previous studies have only investigated if post-menopausal women could improve the number and severity of hot flashes using a questionnaire that described symptoms. We have provided direct evidence that the physiological reactions during a hot flash can be improved with regular exercise that makes you fitter."
Journal: Exercise training reduces the acute physiological severity of post-menopausal hot flushes, Bailey et al., Journal of Physiology, doi: 10.1113/JP271456, published 17 December 2015; The Physiological Society news release, accessed 18 December 2015.
