Hot flushes and night sweats affect most menopausal women but a new drug could be a game-changer, say experts. Here’s how to stay cool and beat those sticky moments!
WORDS: MICHELE O’CONNOR
A Game-Changer?
“Hot flushes and night sweats are called vasomotor symptoms, resulting from changes in the body’s thermo-regulatory centre in the brain,” says consultant gynecologist Dr Anne Henderson (gynae-expert.co.uk), author of Natural Menopause.
“Women can experience a variety of symptoms including the rushing sensation of heat, facial flushing, uncontrollable sweating and palpitations.”
Veozah, also known as fezolinetant, is a new drug that can reduce these symptoms by up to 60%. The drug is now available via private prescription and, with approval from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), could soon be available on the NHS. Advocates claim it could be a game-changer for those with a history of breast or ovarian cancer, blood clots or high blood pressure, who are cannot use HRT.
“However, very few women only have these symptoms and, in my experience, they seek treatment for anxiety, mood swings/low mood and brain fog – not hot flushes and night sweats,” says Dr Henderson. She adds that Veozah is not a replacement for modern HRT (women should be prescribed the newer, safer, plant-derived, body-identical progesterone which doesn’t increase breast cancer risk), which is a safe, effective treatment for all symptoms of the menopause and safeguards against cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
“Also, at a cost of around £50, Veozah is phenomenally expensive compared to HRT, which costs between £5 and £10 a month,” she adds.
Tweak Your Diet
“Current research shows a diet that includes healthy fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids, may be helpful in decreasing the severity of hot flushes and the frequency of night sweats,” says Dr Henderson.
Omega-3 fats also help preserve memory and cognitive function while minimising the issues related to declining oestrogen levels, such as vaginal dryness, aching joints and thinning skin. Good sources include oily fish (e.g. salmon, mackerel and sardines), extra virgin olive oil, avocados, seeds and nuts including flax seeds, chia seeds and walnuts.
“Research has also shown that women in countries such as Japan, who eat a diet rich in soy, have fewer menopausal symptoms, in parti
