Between Heat and Chill — Hot Flashes, Sleep, and the Brain’s Role
Between Heat and Chill — Hot Flashes, Sleep, and the Brain’s Role Hot flashes and sleepless nights are not random — they reflect the brain’s struggle to regulate temperature and restore balance after estrogen declines. Understanding this turns frustration into empathy. 1️⃣ When the Body Heats Up Without Warning You’ve seen it happen — she suddenly feels flushed, fans herself, or wakes drenched in sweat. That surge of heat comes from the hypothalamus , the brain’s thermostat, misfiring as hormonal signals fluctuate. She’s not being dramatic — her brain is literally trying to protect her. 2️⃣ Inside the Brain: Serotonin, Thermoregulation, and Sleep Estrogen helps regulate serotonin , which influences both mood and body heat. When estrogen levels fall, serotonin becomes unstable — and so does temperature control. Meanwhile, melatonin — the hormone governing sleep — also decline...