If you have severe episodes of flushing, sweating, rapid pulse, anxiety, headache or weakness during the years surrounding menopause, you understand what the term hot flash means.
If your events are intense, it's likely that you would like to stop hot flashes quickly in order to avoid the uncomfortable feeling.
Symptoms can be severe enough to interfere with activities of daily living.
About 85 percent of females experiences symptoms prior to and during the first year or two of menopause.
The number and severity of events can be higher in women who have suffered breast cancer.
The episodes may last longer in breast cancer survivors or those who experience menopause early.
It is believed that symptoms are caused when the level of estrogen in the body decreases due to menopause.
The reduced level of hormones creates confusion in the hypothalamus - the portion of the brain that controls body temperature, appetite and sex drive.
When the hypothalamus, which is the body's thermostat, receives a message that it's too hot, it goes into action.
The blood vessels dilate so that more blood circulates, the sweat glands release perspiration to cool the skin and the heart pumps faster to take care of the increased demands.
Choosing methods to end those troubling heat flashes should begin with the least invasive.

• Try exercising more and changing your diet first.
  
• Drink more water and avoid excessive stressful situations.
  
• Keep a log, tracking episodes of hot flashes to determine if there is a pattern in the attacks.
  
• Wearing clothing of cotton, rayon or linen seems to help some women relieve the symptoms.
  
• Wear open-neck garments that are layered so that you can remove a layer or two if needed.
  

Another helpful way to stop hot flashes is through Chinese medicine.
Herbs, teas and acupuncture have been prescribed to deal with the various types of symptoms.