# Hot flashes: guides and answers · Unpaused > Source: https://unpaused.cc/topics/hot-flashes ## Hot flashes Why flashes and night sweats happen, and what has evidence behind it when you want them to stop. Overview and common questions * [Perimenopause](/topics/perimenopause) * [Symptoms](/topics/symptoms) * [Hormone therapy (HRT)](/topics/hrt) * [Sleep](/topics/sleep) * [Weight and diet](/topics/weight-and-diet) ### Hot flashes: the overview A hot flash (a hot flush in the UK) is a sudden wave of heat over the face, neck and chest, often with sweating and a fast heartbeat, followed by a chill. At night the same thing is called a night sweat. Falling oestrogen unsettles the part of the brain that keeps body temperature in range, so small changes trigger a full cooling response. ### What has evidence behind it HRT remains the most effective treatment, according to NICE. For women who cannot or prefer not to take hormones, NICE now recommends menopause-specific cognitive behavioural therapy for flushes and sweats, either alongside HRT or on its own ([NICE, November 2024](https://www.nice.org.uk/news/articles/updated-guideline-recommends-more-treatment-choices-for-menopause-symptoms)). The Menopause Society's 2023 review of non-hormonal options gave CBT and clinical hypnosis its strongest evidence rating ([The Menopause Society](https://menopause.org/press-releases/clinical-hypnosis-vs-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-whats-better-for-managing-hot-flashes)). There are also prescription medicines without hormones. Fezolinetant, sold as Veozah, was approved by the US FDA in May 2023 and works on the brain's temperature centre directly ([review in PMC](//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12401328/)). ### What the guides here cover Articles in this topic cover what sets off a flash, home measures that make nights easier, non-hormonal medicines, and why most herbal supplements have little trial evidence. Our editors' view: layers and a cooler bedroom make the heat easier to live with, but if it is waking you every night, that is reason enough to ask about a treatment. Written by the Unpaused editors. Updated 2026-10-17. ### Questions readers ask How long does a flash last? Usually a few minutes. How often they come varies from a few a week to many a day. Is there a treatment without hormones? Yes. CBT and clinical hypnosis have strong evidence, and prescription options include fezolinetant and some antidepressants used at low dose. Do herbal supplements help? The evidence is weak for most of them, and The Menopause Society does not recommend them for this symptom. ### Other topics * [Perimenopause: Perimenopause symptoms and the first signs, how long the stage lasts, and hormone replacement therapy while periods continue.](/topics/perimenopause) * [Symptoms: Brain fog, anxiety, aches and other changes, and what each symptom usually means.](/topics/symptoms) * [Hormone therapy (HRT): What HRT is, the forms it comes in, who it suits and how the risks really stack up.](/topics/hrt) * [Sleep: Why sleep breaks down in perimenopause and menopause, from sweating at night to 3am waking, and what helps you stay asleep.](/topics/sleep) * [Weight and diet: Why weight changes in midlife, and how to eat for energy, bone strength and heart health.](/topics/weight-and-diet) [See all topics on one page](/topics) --- Plain, practical menopause advice Plain, practical guides to perimenopause and menopause: symptoms, hormone therapy, sleep, hot flashes, weight and food, each checked against health services and medical societies. [desk@unpaused.cc](mailto:desk@unpaused.cc) ### Topics * [Perimenopause](/topics/perimenopause) * [Symptoms](/topics/symptoms) * [Hormone therapy (HRT)](/topics/hrt) * [Hot flashes](/topics/hot-flashes) * [Sleep](/topics/sleep) * [Weight and diet](/topics/weight-and-diet) * [All guides](/articles) ### About us * [About](/about) * [Authors](/authors) * [Editorial policy](/editorial-policy) * [How we make money](/how-we-make-money) ### Legal * [Terms](/terms) * [Privacy](/privacy) * [Contact](/contact) Unpaused © 2026 Unpaused. General health information, written from sources we link. It does not replace advice from your own doctor, nurse or pharmacist. [How we make money](/how-we-make-money) [Editorial policy](/editorial-policy) [Who writes here](/authors)