3 out 4 women in this country experience them during menopause.
However, there is relief, but the question is what product or medication works the best?
For the past 4 years, hot flashes have taken over Anne Caruso's life.
"It's this feeling of warmth creeping in and then before I know it, it's a full blown, red-faced, red chest, sweating," Caruso said.
They come frequently and unexpectedly.
Anne is no different than the 75% of all American women who experience hot flashes during menopause, the end of their menstrual cycle.
Anne says the only thing worse than her hot flashes are her night sweats which are actually hot flashes at night.
Anne agreed to try 3 products we found online. The price range $15 to $40.
One, the Chillow, a pillow cover that uses a special material and water to ease the symptoms of night sweats.
Two, Restore, a cooling mist spray.
Three, Flash-EEZ, a band-aid type strip for your pinky that works on the theory of a pressure point to reduce flashes.
We returned a week later for the results.
Anne said the Chillow was more comfortable and cooler than a regular pillow, but the relief it offered was limited. Would she buy it? "Probably not," she replied.
What about the Flash-EEZ finger band? "It's kind of silly looking, you feel silly walking around with these things," she said. She says Flash-EEZ didn't work.
The only product Anne said she would purchase was the Restore spray mist, which provided temporary relief from her flashes. "I felt better; it did feel better," Anne said.
For long-term relief, Anne has tried herbal remedies with no success, but she's been reluctant to try hormone therapy.
Dr. Beverly Vaughn, a gynecologist at Lankenau Hospital, says hormones are safe for healthy women.
"It works better than anything else and women shouldn't be frightened to use it," Dr. Vaughn said.
Dr. Vaughn says hormones, some anti-depressants and the anti-seizure medication Gabapentin, work better than over the counter products because they get to the root of the problem.
"The reason women have hot flashes is because the temperature control, which is in the brain, in the hypothalamus, is a little bit off," Vaughn said.
Meantime, Anne continues to look for relief from what she calls her hottest and longest personal summer.
There are drugs being used successfully in Europe for hot flashes called Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators.
One of them is Tibolone, it has not yet received FDA approval here, but researchers are studying it.
Penn Medicine has a study under way on a non-hormonal treatment for hot flashes. It's a drug already approved by FDA (Lexapro) for other medical condition. It would be used short-term. Volunteers should be between 40 and 62 years of age, and have bothersome hot flashes or night sweats Anyone getting into study will be compensated for their time. For more information you may call 1-800-662-4487.
STATEMENT FROM FLASH-EEZ
We thank you very much for taking the time to try FLASH-EEZ, and value this important feedback. Flash-EEZ bands do not eliminate Hot Flashes, but rather reduces their severity and helps with Night Sweats. As with all medical devices, we fully understand that none are 100% effective for all people, and that individual results do vary. We offer a 100% money back guarantee.
It is truly unfortunate that your subject was unable to enjoy the relief that many others have enjoyed, as indicated by our large amount of user testimonials seen on our web site www.Flash-EEZ.com.
We invite all viewers to visit our website and to take advantage of our FREE TRIAL offer. We encourage everyone to try Flash-EEZ for themselves, and fully expect that they too will be one of the many satisfied customers who get quick relief from Hot Flashes by using our product.
Best Regards,
Flash-EEZ
STATEMENT FROM SOOTHSOFT, Makers of CHILLOW
With a menopause aged woman running the company, we understand that every woman has a different experience regarding menopause - in fact, just recently when on the Rachel Ray Show (February 2010), Dr. Christiane Northrup, who cited using the Chillow herself, says that some women don't even experience hot flashes (lucky them!). However, the Human Lab consumer on the show raved about her Chillow® as she had EXTREME hot flashes. Whether you are super hot or only kind of hot, the Chillow is there to help provide relief during your warm moments - most consumers sleep through the night as their hotflashes do not awaken them because the Chillow is constantly wicking heat away from their head and releasing it back into the air. It is definitely cool to the touch, much like tile always feels cool to your feet even if it is at ambient room temperature. (Unfortunately, our product does not eliminate hot flashes - although, if you invent that product, please call us because we would buy one from you!)
We have employees in perimenopause and for them the Chillow® is simply too cold, go figure.....! Everyone runs at "different temperatures" throughout their life - including men. Using the Chillow® is a personal experience and because the product is activated by the consumer with water, the product can vary in performance and temperature based on how specifically the instructions are followed.
Essentially, the Chillow® acts as a heat sink using pure water that is encapsulated by a patented structure. There are no gels, or chemicals or toxins. We don't artificially cool the product using electricity although you supremely hot gals can throw it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes and get an AMAZINGLY COLD product (too cold for most of our consumers - we wanted to make a powerless cooling product that didn't sting your skin or drip like the cold, frozen gel packs).
Much like hot drawn bath water always becomes cold to the touch, the Chillow which uses only water consistently feels cool to the touch. The key is to have ALL water and NO air inside the product when you are using it. Also the amount of water used in the product has a lot to do with how cool the product feels or how long it remains feeling cool. How a person maintains and cares for their Chillow® has a lot to do with how long their product lasts and performs - it is made to be soft and pliable - a comfortable and safe product to sleep on made right here in the U.S.- no cheap or toxic plasticizers from China. Even with the patented safety precautions in place, there are knock offs and sadly we and duped consumers have found the knock offs leak, smell, contain unregulated materials produced in unregulated facilities not to mention they don't deliver a satisfactory sensation. Please contact us toll free at 1.888.244.5569 to ensure you purchase an authentic Chillow®.
We cheerfully refund undamaged products within 30 days should anyone find our products unsatisfactory. Our retailers do have their own return policies as well. We are in the business of offering relief and we understand it is a very personal experience and that not every product pleases every consumer. And while our product may not work for everyone, over 13 years of business proves our product works both for many, many people and their pets too. Specifically regarding menopause, the Chillow® has been endorsed by everyone from Dr. Susan Love on Oprah to Karen Giblin of Red Hot Mamas and our products have appeared on many shows throughout the years including Good Morning America, the Today Show, Dr. Oz and more. Should you have any questions or concerns about our products please email us directly - Donnelle Hewitt at donnelle.hewitt@soothsoft.com. Donnelle would be more than happy to help you.
Wishing you your best uninterrupted rest and comfort always, the Chillow® team.
More information from Dr. Beverly Vaughn: http://www.mainlinehealth.org/whs
