We've been lucky to enjoy some beautiful warm weather recently. Sunshine, longer days, and higher temperatures are something many of us look forward to.

But if you're in your 40s or 50s and your oestrogen levels are beginning to decline, you may notice that the heat feels much more intense than it does for other people.

And there is a good reason for that.

 

Oestrogen affects your body's thermostat

Oestrogen plays an important role in how your body regulates temperature. As oestrogen levels decline during perimenopause and menopause, the part of the brain that controls body temperature becomes more sensitive.

This means that even a small rise in your body temperature or the temperature around you can trigger a response that makes your body think it is much hotter than it actually is.

To cool you down, your blood vessels widen and your body starts producing sweat. It is simply trying to get rid of excess heat as quickly as possible.

For many women, this feels like a sudden wave of heat, flushing, and heavy sweating.

 

It takes energy

A hot flush is much more than an uncomfortable moment.

Your body is working hard to cool itself down, and that process requires energy.

This is one reason why many women feel exhausted during hot weather or after a hot flush. Your body has been working overtime just to regulate its temperature.

So if you've found yourself feeling more tired than usual during the recent warm weather, you're certainly not imagining it.

 

From hot... to cold

Once your body has cooled itself through sweating, your temperature can sometimes drop quite quickly.

Many women recognise the feeling of suddenly becoming cold, shivering, or reaching for a jumper just minutes after feeling unbearably hot.

It can feel like your body's thermostat is constantly trying to find the right balance.

 

What can you do?

While we can't always control the weather, there are several things that may help reduce the impact of the heat:

  • Stay in the shade whenever possible.
  • Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
  • Wear lightweight, breathable clothing.
  • Try to avoid moving repeatedly between very hot and very cold environments if you can.
  • Give yourself permission to slow down and rest more on particularly hot days.

Perhaps the most important piece of advice is to be kind to yourself.

If you feel more tired than everyone else, it doesn't necessarily mean you're less fit or less capable. Your body is simply working much harder to regulate its temperature.

 

Don't hesitate to seek help

If hot flushes, night sweats, or other menopausal symptoms are affecting your daily life or quality of life, speak with your doctor or gynaecologist.

There are treatment options available, and you don't have to simply put up with symptoms that are having a significant impact on your wellbeing.

 

Let's talk about it

We've become much better at talking openly about periods.

Now it's time we became just as comfortable talking about menopause.

Hot flushes, temperature changes, and fatigue are very real experiences for many women, yet they're still often dismissed as something we should simply "get on with."

I think it's time we changed that.

Let's support each other. Let's understand why some women struggle more in the heat. Let's offer someone a seat in the shade, encourage them to take a break, or simply recognise that their body is working much harder than it may appear.

The more we understand what's happening, the easier it becomes to care for ourselves and those around us.

So enjoy the sunshine this summer,but if your body is asking for a little extra care, listen to it.

Astrid

 

DANSK

Hvorfor varmen kan føles ekstra hård efter 40

Vi har været heldige med sommervejret den seneste tid. Solen skinner, temperaturerne stiger, og de fleste af os mærker, at det er varmt.

Men hvis du er i 40'erne eller 50'erne og oplever et fald i østrogen, kan den samme temperatur føles markant varmere for dig end for dem omkring dig.

Og der er en god forklaring på hvorfor.

Østrogen påvirker kroppens termostat

Østrogen spiller en vigtig rolle i kroppens temperaturregulering. Når østrogenniveauet falder, bliver hjernens "termostat" mere følsom.

Det betyder, at selv en lille stigning i kropstemperaturen eller temperaturen omkring dig kan få kroppen til at reagere, som om den er blevet alt for varm.

For at køle dig ned udvider blodkarrene sig, og du begynder at svede. Kroppen forsøger ganske enkelt at slippe af med varmen så hurtigt som muligt.

For mange føles det som en pludselig bølge af varme, rødme i ansigtet og kraftig svedtendens.

Det kræver energi

Det er let at tænke, at en hedetur "bare" er ubehagelig.

Men kroppen arbejder faktisk hårdt, når den forsøger at regulere temperaturen.

Derfor er det ikke overraskende, at mange også oplever en udtalt træthed bagefter. Kroppen har brugt energi på at køle sig selv ned, og det kan være med til at forklare, hvorfor man føler sig mere udmattet på varme dage.

Fra varm til kold

Når kroppen har svedt og afgivet varme, kan temperaturen falde hurtigt.

Nogle oplever derfor næsten det modsatte bagefter, man bliver kølig, får kuldegysninger eller føler behov for at tage en trøje på.

Det kan føles som en lille temperatur-rutsjebane, hvor kroppen hele tiden forsøger at finde tilbage til sin balance.

Hvad kan du selv gøre?

Hvis du oplever, at varmen påvirker dig meget, kan små ændringer gøre en stor forskel.

  • Hold dig så vidt muligt i skyggen eller i køligere omgivelser.
  • Drik rigeligt med vand.
  • Brug let og åndbart tøj.
  • Forsøg at undgå at gå direkte fra meget varme til meget kolde omgivelser og tilbage igen, hvis det er muligt.
  • Accepter, at kroppen måske har brug for lidt flere pauser på de varmeste dage.

Det vigtigste er måske at være lidt mere nænsom over for dig selv.

Hvis du bliver hurtigere træt end andre, betyder det ikke, at du er i dårlig form. Din krop arbejder ganske enkelt hårdere på at holde temperaturen under kontrol.

Tal med din læge, hvis symptomerne fylder meget

Hvis hedeture, nattesved eller andre symptomer påvirker din hverdag eller din livskvalitet, er det en god idé at tale med din læge eller en gynækolog.

Der findes forskellige muligheder for behandling og rådgivning, og du behøver ikke bare acceptere, at det skal være sådan.

Lad os tale mere om det

Vi er blevet meget bedre til at tale åbent om menstruation.

Jeg håber, vi også bliver bedre til at tale om overgangsalderen og de forandringer, den kan medføre.

For mange kvinder er varme, hedeture og træthed en reel del af hverdagen. Det er ikke noget, man skal skamme sig over eller skjule.

Lad os hjælpe hinanden. Lad os vise forståelse, når en kollega søger skyggen, når en veninde har brug for en pause, eller når nogen siger, at de simpelthen er drænede af varmen.

For nogle af os føles sommerens temperaturer bare anderledes.

Så nyd sommeren, nyd solen, og gør, hvad du kan for at holde din krop så behageligt tempereret som muligt.

Astrid