T.J. Samson | Destination Health | June 2019

June 2019 5 Cool tips for taming hot flashes Hot flashes may be one of the most annoying symptoms when you’re entering menopause. A hot flash starts with feelings of heat spreading throughout your body. Your face and neck may turn red, and blotches can appear on your chest, back and arms. When hot flashes occur at night, they’re called night sweats. And they can disrupt your sleep, leaving you feeling tired and cranky the next morning. Hot flashes can last for years even after menopause. So is there anything that you can do about them? Fortunately, yes. Here are a few things that can help you cope: ●  ● Dress in layers, so you can peel clothes off as you heat up. ●  ● Avoid common hot-flash triggers like alcohol, spicy foods and caffeine. ●  ● Keep a healthy weight. Hot flashes can be worse if you’re carrying extra pounds. ●  ● Carry a portable fan in your purse. ●  ● Keep your bedroom cool. ●  ● Sip cold water throughout the day and in the evening. ●  ● Try taking slow, deep breaths at the start of a hot flash. ●  ● Keep a frozen cold pack under your pillow at night. Turn the pillow over often so your head is always resting on a cool area. If none of the above works, talk with your doctor. He or she might suggest you try medications to douse the heat. An antidepressant called paroxetine has been OK’d by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat hot flashes. Hormone therapy also may help.There are risks, however, to taking hormones— review these with your doctor. You’ll want to take the lowest effective dose for the least amount of time possible. Sources: National Institute on Aging; North American Menopause Society; Office on Women’s Health Take a shot at shingles No one really likes getting a shot. But no one likes getting a painful disease like shingles either. And it’s safe to say that getting shingles can hurt a whole lot worse than getting the vaccine that helps prevent it. WHAT IS IT? Shingles is a blistery rash triggered by the same virus that causes chickenpox. So if you’ve ever had chickenpox, you’re at risk for shingles. Get- ting older also raises your risk for shingles. Shingles usually starts with a burning or tingling feeling, followed by a rash, on one side of the body or face. The rash may turn into blisters, which may start to crust over in about 10 days. While some people with shingles have only mild symptoms, others may be racked with in- tense pain. Sometimes the pain lingers even after the rash goes away.The blisters can cause scars too. Shingles can even spread to the eyes and cause vision loss. See your doctor immediately if you notice blisters on your face. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION You can reduce your risk for shingles by getting two doses of the shingles vaccine. You should do that if you’re 50 or older, experts say. It’s also good to know that many insurance plans cover the shingles vaccine. Your doctor can answer any questions you may have about shingles or the vaccine to prevent it. Source: National Institute on Aging Wellness