Perimenopause/menopause & regular exercise

[OakLeaf]

I'm 49, been in perimenopause for a couple of years, haven't had a period since March.

I only started having hot flashes late this summer. After I was diagnosed with benign proliferative breast changes, I eliminated hydrolyzed soy protein from my diet, and cut way, way back on unfermented soy and alcohol. Ever since then I've been getting hot flashes that are very brief but also very frequent. On average I probably have 5-6 a day, lasting at most 2-3 minutes.

It's too early for me to be able to say whether they'll get "bad" or not. But the women I know who complain most bitterly about their hot flashes, are the same ones who might make a show of exercising but refuse to actually exert themselves, theatrically mopping their brows if they get the slightest flush in their cheeks. Right now I'm guessing that it comes down to whether you view sweat as something natural, healthy and even (sometimes) fun, or as something to be avoided at all costs. So far my hot flashes are at best a brief respite from being freezing all the time; at worst "Oh, I'm sweating again."

But I know that I've got a long way to go and I might not feel so superior a couple of years from now

Edit: Oh, and I have yet to experience one while I'm doing cardio. Don't know if that's because my body's thermal regulation system works better when it's working hard, or whether I just don't notice it. I did have a flash during a Pilates workout last week. That was probably the most "interesting" one I've had so far

[Crankin]

I have only had 2 flashes while riding; one outside and one in a spin class. Yes, it was interesting.

[divingbiker]

Right now I'm guessing that it comes down to whether you view sweat as something natural, healthy and even (sometimes) fun, or as something to be avoided at all costs. So far my hot flashes are at best a brief respite from being freezing all the time; at worst "Oh, I'm sweating again."

Even if you're used to sweating hard, a really bad hot flash or night sweat is a horse of a different color. Hope you don't ever experience one!

[salsabike]

Right now I'm guessing that it comes down to whether you view sweat as something natural, healthy and even (sometimes) fun, or as something to be avoided at all costs.

Um...no. I am very active, love to sweat and always pour sweat when I'm working hard on the bike or when I was in dance class. And for a year or so I had hot flashes that felt just like someone was applying a blowtorch to my face. Believe me, whether you like to sweat---and whether you exercise---have nothing to do with that. It's a chemical event. Luckily, those don't seem to happen anymore.

[shootingstar]

Um...no. I am very active, love to sweat and always pour sweat when I'm working hard on the bike or when I was in dance class. And for a year or so I had hot flashes that felt just like someone was applying a blowtorch to my face. Believe me, whether you like to sweat---and whether you exercise---have nothing to do with that. It's a chemical event. Luckily, those don't seem to happen anymore.

Like a blowtorch...that's a good metaphor to help some of us who have not experienced the real significant hot flashes.

And I never knew menopause could drag on for 10 yrs.

Oakleaf: I still eat tofu dishes several times per month. But have never drank soymilk often at all.

[coyote]

I thought I was having hot flashes this past summer. Turns out that it really was just that hot, LOL! Now that we are having cooler weather my 'hot flashes' are gone.

[Dogmama]

Hot flashes are more like an internal heat. Just being hot is due to external circumstances. I get 8-10 in a 24 hours period. Night sweats are the worst.

Exercise can be a double edged sword. It definitely helps with anxiety & depression. It also reduces body fat. Women with lower body fat levels tend to flash more because estrogen is stored in body fat. Therefore, the dips in estrogen and resulting flashing are more pronounced in women who have lower body fat percentages.

[OakLeaf]

Okay, sorry if I offended anyone that really wasn't my intention. Just there are groups of women in both the gyms I teach at, that fit that profile. Talk all through class, barely exert themselves, turn the AC or fans up so high that everyone else gets joint pain and can't warm their muscles up, and blame their hot flashes. I'm actually glad to know that those aren't the only kind of people who get bad hot flashes.

But on another point... it was my cold and the little fever I'm running that sent me to the 'net this morning, where I found two interesting bits of information...

one, somewhat reassuring, that 80% of women stop having hot flashes within four years of their last period.

But also, (which you probably already knew) hot flashes do not raise core temperature, only skin temperature; it's the body trying very hard to cool itself when no cooling is needed. SO... it seems to me that there's a risk of hypothermia, especially this time of year; and if we're outdoors exerting ourselves, we should be doubly sure to wear moisture-wicking and breathable apparel, and NOT to open any zippers or remove our hats during a hot flash. I couldn't find anything directly on point in a very brief and cursory search - anybody have any input?

[Crankin]

You didn't offend me; those same women go to my gym...
Since I have never had an issue with flashes while exercising, except for the two times I mentioned, I can't comment on the hypothermia stuff. But, I do notice that since my flashes stopped pretty much, I have a much higher tolerance to cold when I am riding, especially. If I compare what I wear now to what I wore 5 years ago on colder rides, it's a world of difference. I don't notice it under non-exercise conditions, though.

[shootingstar]

Exercise can be a double edged sword. It definitely helps with anxiety & depression. It also reduces body fat. Women with lower body fat levels tend to flash more because estrogen is stored in body fat. Therefore, the dips in estrogen and resulting flashing are more pronounced in women who have lower body fat percentages.

Got any article that we could read up more on this? ie. women with lower body fat will tend to flash more if their estrogen is lower. Still would plan to engage in some form of exercise anyway.

Although my symptoms are incredibly minor, don't envy some other women who do experience it in a major way. ie. our receptionist who has flashes hot enough that she does pump the AC and it affects some offices. But she is a person that does undertake physical work in part of her job and she exercises more regularily.

Another woman I know who used to be a intensive care nurse, flashed bad enough that she turned red in face from sweating. The head honcho of the organization, asked her what was wrong...

[Possegal]

actually, differing opinions on the idea that thinner=more flashes. see study here, where more abdominal adipose = more flashes.
Menopause. 2008 May-Jun;15(3):429-34
CONCLUSION: Increased abdominal adiposity, particularly subcutaneous adiposity, is associated with increased odds of hot flashes, favoring thermoregulatory models of hot flashes. Body fat may not protect women from hot flashes as once thought.