Hot flashes. A hot flash is a sudden feeling of heat in the upper part or all of your body. Your face and neck become flushed. Red blotches may appear on your chest, back, and
arms. Heavy sweating and cold shivering can follow. Flashes can be as mild as a light blush or severe enough to wake you from a sound sleep (called night sweats). Most flashes last between 30 seconds and 5 minutes.
Sleep problems. Some women find they have a hard time getting a good night's sleep - they may not fall asleep easily or may wake too early. They may need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and then find they aren't able to fall back to sleep.
Mood changes. There may be a relationship between changes in estrogen levels and a woman's mood. Shifts in mood may also be caused by stress, family changes such as children leaving home, or feeling tired. Depression is NOT a symptom of menopause.
