Conference Report
Measuring Hot Flashes: Summary of a National Institutes of Health Workshop

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MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

A considerable amount of scientific literature describes the endocrinologic and physiologic changes that occur during hot flashes. However, our understanding of the mechanism of action and factors that trigger hot flashes is incomplete. Briefly, a hot flash is a sensation of heat and flushing that occurs suddenly. It is associated with vasodilation and a decrease in core body temperature (Tc) and is often accompanied by sweating, chills, palpitations, increased metabolism, elevated heart rate,

SUMMARY

The etiology and mechanism of hot flashes remain incompletely understood. Future studies of hormonal and neurologic systems may provide promising leads to improve our understanding of the basic phenomenon and perhaps also shed light on the placebo effect. However, this is likely a complex undertaking. Critical to this effort is the ability to reliably identify when a hot flash has occurred. The leading objective measure in use today—sternal skin conductance monitoring—has some limitations in

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Dr Li provided services as a science writer/consultant under contract to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine while the manuscript was being prepared.

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