Solving the Mystery of Hot and Cold Flashes: Causes and Treatments?

Feeling hot and cold at the same time is what we call hot and cold flashes. They can happen to anyone and are caused by a lot of reasons. But feeling hot and cold can be sometimes unusual. Our bodies experience one form of body temperature change at a time. So, what then is causing me to feel both hot and cold at the same time.

In this article, you will get to know what hot and cold flashes are, why they occur, why you can feel hot and cold at the same time, as to whether this condition can be treated, and also you will get to learn other relevant information. So kindly read on.

What is a hot flash?

A hot flash is a feeling of intense warmth which is not caused by an external source or third party. They appear suddenly or you may feel it coming over a period of a few minutes or even seconds. 

Having your skin starting to feel warm, experiencing redness on parts of your body like (neck, face, ears, chest), sweating around your upper body, fingers tingling, increase in heart rate beat are all symptoms of hot flashes. A common symptom of menopause is a hot flash.

What are the symptoms of hot flash?

Symptoms of a hot flash include:

• Having your skin starting to feel warm all of a sudden 
• Experiencing redness on parts of your body like (neck, face, ears, chest)
• Sweating around your upper body 
• Fingers tingling 
• Increase in heart rate are all symptoms of hot flashes.

What causes hot flash?

Hot flashes can be triggered by a lot of things. Some of which include 

• Tumors 
• Eating disorders 
• Certain types of birth control 
• Medical conditions (for example diabetes) 
• Spicy foods 
• Alcohol 
• Hot drinks 
• Smoking 
• Stress 
• Anxiety 
• Caffeine 
• Spinal lesions 
• Tight clothing, etc.

How to manage hot flashes

Below are some tips you can employ to manage hot flashes

• dressing in layers, even on the cold days
• Sipping ice water at the start of a hot flash
• Keeping a fan on while you sleep
• Lower the room temperature
• Wear cotton clothes and using cotton bed sheets
• Keeping an ice pack on your bedside table
• Avoid spicy foods
• Limit how much alcohol you drink
• Limit hot beverages and caffeine
• Stop smoking
• Using stress reduction techniques, such as yoga, meditation, or guided breathing
• Avoid high fat and high sugar foods

Treatment for hot flashes

Drugs can be prescribed to help manage your hot flashes. Some of these drugs include 

• antidepressants
• hormone replacement drugs 
• clonidine, etc

What is a cold flash?

A cold flash is a tingling, shivery, cold feeling and sensation that can come over your body with no warning or hint whatsoever. Cold flashes can cause you to become pale and they are mostly temporary. They usually last for a few minutes. 

What are the symptoms of cold flashes?

The symptoms of cold flashes include 

• body tingles 
• shaking
• shivering
• the body becoming pale

What are the causes of cold flash?

Cold flashes occur when there are hormonal changes especially those related to menopause and perimenopause, panic attacks, and anxiety attacks. 

How to manage cold flashes 

Below are some tips that can help you reduce the symptoms or lower the risk of cold flashes. 

• Manage your stress levels. Engaging in activities like yoga, meditation, deep breathing can help you reduce your stress levels.
• If you have had a hot flash, change wet clothing or bedding immediately. That can help prevent a subsequent cold flash.

• Move around during a cold flash. That can help raise your body temperature, which may make you feel less chilled.
• Add layers of clothing during a cold flash to help you feel more comfortable.

Why am I hot and cold at the same time?

There are many reasons as to why you can feel cold and hot at the same time. In this section of the article, you will get to know some of the things that can make you feel hot and cold at the same time. Let’s go

Menopause

Menopause is one of the most common causes of you feeling hot and cold flashes at the same time. menopause is the period in a woman’s life (typically between the ages of 45 and 50) when menstruation ceases. It mostly happens to middle-aged women. 

Due to hormonal changes or imbalance during menopause, it can cause you to feel hot and cold at the same time

Anxiety

The hot and cold flashes that people experience at the same time can be triggered by anxiety and stress. People suffering from panic attacks almost always report the sensation of feeling both hot and cold at the same time. Panic attacks are a very common psychological disorder that can be treated by mental health professionals.

Hyperthyroidism

This is when your thyroid gland produces too many hormones, which can accelerate your body’s metabolism and make you feel hot all the time.

Hypothyroidism

Another reason why you might feel hot and cold flashes at the same time is due to hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a condition that occurs when your thyroid doesn’t make enough hormones to regulate your body

Diet

Your diet might also cause a difference in how hot or cold you feel. If you’re running a caloric deficit to lose weight, you might feel colder than usual.

Tumors 

Certain tumors can release hormones or adrenaline can also cause the feeling of being hot all the time. While these are possible, they are also very rare.

Exercise level

Your level of exercise could function the same way. If you exercise a lot and your body is constantly burning calories, you may feel cold.

What should I do if I have hot and cold flashes at the same time?

Identifying the actual cause can help you treat this condition. Performing a medical exam, blood test, and even your medical history can be used to determine the actual cause of you feeling hot and cold at the same time. 

• If the doctor observes symptoms of anxiety, stress or menopause, then blood work may not necessarily be required, however, that will be left for the doctor to determine.
• If menopause is determined to be the main cause, the doctor may suggest alternative approaches to manage the symptoms.
• If any kind of infection is suspected, other tests could include blood cultures, throat swabs or checking the urine for the presence of bacteria or fungi.

The takeaway from this article

If you have ever asked yourself the question “why do I feel hot and cold at the same time?” or ever felt that way, then you need to know that feeling hot and cold at the same time is something very common and can be caused by a variety of reasons ranging from your diet, exercise, tumors, stress, and even menopause.