Psychosomatic causes of hot flashes

The psyche and the body are very closely interwoven. In case of psychological stress, stress hormones are released and these stimulate the circulation and can also trigger hot flushes. But also other stressful events, partly from very old memories, can trigger physical symptoms.

In many cases, the person affected is not even aware that his or her hot flushes are psychosomatic phenomena. With the help of psychosomatic doctors or therapists, these causes can be uncovered and thus treated. Stress is not a purely psychological phenomenon, but is associated with many physical symptoms.

The blood pressure and the heart rate both increase significantly, which can lead to increased blood circulation via certain stress hormones. This can also cause hot flushes. Especially stress situations, which we cannot escape, have this effect. To it examination situations and conflicts with close humans count. Also high amounts of cortisol, as it is released during chronic stress, can trigger hot flushes.

These drugs can cause hot flashes

Many drugs that somehow affect hormonal balance or the cardiovascular system also have hot flashes in their list of side effects. Examples of these are cortisol preparations, the contraceptive pill and medicines for cardiac arrhythmia. Many cancer drugs can also trigger hot flashes.

However, a possible side effect does not mean that every patient develops hot flushes after taking the medicine, but only that these side effects have already been observed. Cortisone is a stress hormone produced naturally in the body which increases blood pressure and downregulates the immune system. Cortisone is also given as a drug for many autoimmune diseases.

In the case of a severe overdose or an excessive production by the body, high blood pressure and a flush, the red coloring of the face and décolleté, can occur. This is perceived by those affected as a hot flush. Cortisone production is increased, especially in chronic stress and in tumors of the pituitary gland.

The classic birth control pill is a combined preparation of estrogens and progesterone. Both hormones have a direct influence on body temperature. If the levels fall, they lead to hot flushes.Since most pills are taken for only 21 days and then paused for 7 days, hormone withdrawal occurs.

The hormone levels drop and a period-like withdrawal bleeding and the typical hot flushes occur. A pill which is taken constantly and not paused, the so-called minipill, does not have this effect. In the case of severe symptoms, affected women can therefore switch to such preparations.

Tamoxifen is a drug used to treat breast cancer. Breast cancer can have certain docking sites for estrogens and can be stimulated to grow by estrogens. Tamoxifen blocks these docking sites and thus simulates an estrogen deficiency. A lack of estrogen, in this case a relative deficiency, affects the body’s temperature control and can cause hot flushes. The affected women are artificially induced to go through the menopause.