The Hot Flash Diaries

Widespread Symptoms:

Up to 75% of menopausal women experience symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats. Around 40-50 billion women in the U.S. alone grapple with vasomotor symptoms, while as many as 85% experience at least one symptom of vaginal atrophy. (Worldmetrics, Biomed Central & Cedars-Sinai).

Long-lasting effects:

Contrary to the perception that menopause is short-lived, studies show hot flashes and night sweats las a median of 7.4 years. For African-American women, this stretches to 10 years. (SO NOT FAIR). (Time).

Heart disease increases:

Post-menopause, women face rising blood pressure and cholesterol levels; heart disease now causes over half of women’s deaths after age 55 (Cedar-Sinai, Healthy Women). Given that heart disease is often thought of as a male issue, this remains an important wake-up call for women’s care.

Emotional Toll: Not just “moody”:

Many women report anxiety, low mood, irritability, and forgetfulness-core emotional symptoms that affect daily-well-being. (NCBI, PubMed).

Menopause is not a silent slide into aging. It’s complex, long-term life phase demanding visibility, tailored care, and compassionate understanding. Investing in education, medical access, and social support can transform the experience from struggle to empowerment.

Let’s share our experiences so we can come together and help each other.