Hot flashes can affect young women due to a drop in estrogen levels, ovarian malfunction, glandular problems, psychological factors, dietary choices, and chemical triggers. Premature ovarian insufficiency and hysterectomy can also cause hot flashes. Certain foods, drinks, and medications can trigger them.
While they’re more commonly a problem for older women going through menopause, there are some things that can cause hot flashes in young women as well. A significant drop in estrogen levels in the body can trigger them, for example, and some other common causes include malfunctioning of the ovaries and hysterectomy in which the ovaries are removed. Certain glandular problems can also cause them. Other causes may include psychological factors, dietary choices, and chemical triggers.
One of the main causes of hot flashes in young women is problems with ovarian function. A woman’s ovaries may begin to fail prematurely, a condition sometimes known as primary ovarian insufficiency, or POI. The organs stop releasing eggs and the levels of estrogen they produce drop dramatically; sometimes this occurs over time, and sometimes it happens very quickly, leading to a condition called estrogen crash. These changes, which may be similar to those that normally occur during menopause, can in turn lead to hot flashes.
Even young women who have had complete hysterectomies can experience hot flashes. This typically occurs when both the uterus and ovaries have been surgically removed during a procedure called bilateral oophorectomy. Since the ovaries normally produce estrogen, this can drastically affect the hormone levels in the body, leading to estrogen crash.
Glandular problems can also lead to hot flashes in young women. Disorders affecting the pituitary gland can cause them, as can hyperthyroidism, in which the thyroid gland is overactive.
Hot flashes can sometimes be a side effect of some psychological problems. Women who experience high amounts of stress may have them at times. They can also be part of the physical response that occurs when a woman has a panic attack.
Certain types of foods or drinks can also cause hot flashes in young women. Spicy or sugary foods are common triggers, as are caffeine and alcohol, especially wine that contains sulfites. Nitrites in some types of meat are another common cause.
Chemicals can also trigger hot flashes in women of any age at times. Smokers can be prone to it due to the physical response to nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes. Hot flashes can also be a side effect of some types of medications.
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