How long do flushes generally last for? I'm getting them day and night.

There is no way of telling how long this hot flush phase of the menopause will last for any specific woman.

An average would be 2 years, but quite frankly it could be any amount of time, depending on your personal health and circumstances. 

If this is your main symptom then you can usually sort it out using an extract of sage. It comes in tincture or tablet form, but I suggest starting with the tincture form, as it often gives swifter effects than the tablet and you don't want to wait one more day than you have to!

Take 15 drops in a little water or juice at breakfast and tea time and then 30 drops before you go to bed. You don't need to eat anything with it. 

You may also find that avoiding eating a heavy meal late at night reduces the severity of the night sweats, so maybe consider eating your main meal at lunch time and having a lighter evening meal, finishing it at least 3 hours before bed time.

Caffeine sometimes triggers flushes, so keep caffeine intake (coffee, tea, fizzy drinks) to a minimum and ensure that you are drinking plenty of water to rehydrate yourself.

Dehydration can cause feelings of anxiety, which then makes flushes worse. It's worth checking if anything else seems to trigger the flushes - some women find that spicy foods or sugary foods will affect them.

Also, if you are stressed then flushes tend to come along more frequently, as adrenalin affects circulation. Doing simple breathing exercises (e.g. counting to 3 on the in breath and another 3 on the out breath) several times a day can often help.

If you feel a flush coming on, taking slow, deep breaths can stop it getting worse. Drink some water and give yourself a minute.

Eileen Durward