It is important to remember that each woman’s experience is highly individual. Some women may experience few or no symptoms of menopause, while others experience multiple physical and psychological symptoms. The extent and severity of symptoms varies significantly among women. It is also important to remember that symptoms may come and go over an extended time period for some women. This, too, is highly individual. Speaking from a holistic perspective a lot varies according to hydration, type of food plan you are following, amount of exercise and what type of exercise, sugar, artificial sweeteners, sleep, and medications or type of supplements you are taking.
There is currently no method to predict when hot flashes will begin and how long they will last. Hot flashes occur in up to 40% of regularly menstruating women in their forties, so they may begin before the menstrual irregularities characteristic of menopause even begin. About 80% of women will be finished having hot flashes after five years. Sometimes (in about 10% of women), hot flashes can last as long as 10 years. There is no way to predict when hot flashes will cease, though they tend to decrease in frequency over time. They may also wax and wane in their severity. The average woman who has hot flashes will have them for about five years. In the beginning I had very few hot flashes and then it seemed if I moved I experienced them. Sometimes hot flashes are accompanied by night sweats (episodes of drenching sweats at nighttime). I never experienced these, although both my mom and sister experienced both the hot flashes and night sweats. This may lead to awakening and difficulty falling asleep again, resulting in unrefreshing sleep and daytime tiredness.
I was able to reduce the symptoms with a low glycemic food plan, high quality supplements, omega 3 fatty acids, grape seed extract, calcium, essential oils and weight bearing burst exercise. I drink more than 8 glasses of water per day depending on what I am doing. I have removed gluten, wheat, corn, soy, dairy and artificial sweeteners and sugar from our diet. I believe this was a major factor in helping me thought the menopause.