Like fuel to a fire, a number of activities have been shown to exacerbate hot flashes and night sweats. You may have already noticed that a stressful moment, a tight-fitting sweater, a spicy bowl of soup, or even a tall glass of wine can trigger a hormone-related heat blast. However, you may not realize that one of the biggest contributors to your vasomotor symptoms is likely your favorite ritual to start the day: your morning coffee.
During menopause, your hypothalamus becomes hypersensitive to small temperature changes in your body. When it perceives a rise in body temperature, your brain's "internal thermostat" prompts your veins to dilate and increase blood flow in an attempt to disperse more heat through the skin. The result is a sudden sensation of heat, followed by a bout of perspiration, which achieves the hypothalamus's goal of lowering your body temperature. For this reason, any foods or activities that cause your blood vessels to dilate are likely to exacerbate hot flashes. Why, then, does caffeine cause hot flashes? (After all, caffeine is a known vasoconstrictor, meaning that it prompts your blood vessels to shrink.)
The answer lies in the way caffeine affects the central nervous system. When caffeine enters the bloodstream, it slightly raises the heart rate. This increases the speed with which blood pumps through your veins, causing your skin to flush much like a brisk workout. In addition, since coffee tends to be consumed hot, it is likely to raise your internal body temperature. These two factors combined make coffee and menopause a dangerous mix with regard to hot flashes.
Does this mean you should abandon your morning cup of java forever? Absolutely not. However, as your body transitions through menopause, some thoughtful substitutions might help reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes and night sweats. Instead of a hot cup of coffee, consider a cold decaffeinated brew or even an herbal tea. In both instances, you can still get a morning buzz without introducing heat or high caffeine content to the mix.
After the first 30 days or so without their morning coffee, most people find they are more addicted to the ritual itself than the actual drink. It can also help to create new routines surrounding your morning fix. If you opt for an herbal tea, you may want to add a slice of fresh cucumber or dash of chopped mint. If your taste buds cannot live without the bitter-sweet splash of coffee, consider a dash of cinnamon.
