The role of anxiety and temperature in the experience of menopausal hot flushes

Abstract

A sample of women aged between 45 and 55 years, reporting symptoms of flushing, recorded these experiences on a daily basis. Levels of anxiety, environmental temperature and change in temperature were assessed prior to each flush and their role as potential triggers considered, with reference to tentative psychological models. Approximately a quarter of flushes were preceded by feelings of anxiety and one-fifth followed a move to a warmer environment. However, flushes experienced in the presence of anxiety did not differ in duration from those occurring in the absence of this emotional state. The possible role of emotional factors as triggers for flushing requires further exploration.