You’re a generally healthy man. But then one day, all of a sudden, you feel as if your skin is on fire. You’re sweating as if it’s 100 degrees, and you can feel your skin reddening. Your first thought might be that you’re experiencing hot flashes, commonly associated with women going through menopause. But is it possible for men to have hot flashes? Being that hot flashes resemble some of the symptoms of panic attacks, some men may assume they are caused by anxiety. Are they right?
What Is a Hot Flash?
A hot flash is a sudden, intense feeling of heat, not caused by any external environmental changes. Hot flashes are a direct result of internal processes that trigger a reaction in the body.
Symptoms of a hot flash can include:
- A sudden, intense feeling of warmth that spreads through your chest, neck, and face
- Blotchy reddening of the skin
- Increase in heart rate
- Sweating, sometimes profusely, especially on the upper body
- Chills as the intensity subsides
- Anxiety
Women most often experience hot flashes as a result of the significant hormonal fluctuations related to the menopausal process.[1] Men, on the other hand, don’t experience hormonal fluctuations in the same way women do.
During midlife, men experience what’s known as “androgen decline in the aging male” or ADAM. It’s a gradual reduction of hormones, but it does not result in the types of hormone-related symptoms (like hot flashes) seen in women. Testosterone, the primary male sex hormone, only drops about 1-2% per year after age 30 in healthy men. That slow decline is considered normal and generally not the source of their hot flashes.[2]
Why Do Men Experience Hot Flashes?
What does happen during male midlife is a cluster of changes that, when considered as a whole, seem to predispose menopausal-like symptoms. When men experience hot flashes, it is likely due to very specific circumstances or lifestyle issues.
It is around this time that men tend to experience what is commonly referred to as a “midlife crisis.” Essentially, they recognize that they’ve reached midlife and have begun to intensely evaluate their lives on a personal and professional level. Midlife is a time of dealing with things like relationship issues, career changes or retirement, caring for aging parents, and other stressors. Altogether, these physical and psychological factors can create feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress.
It is well known that anxiety, and stress in particular, have been linked to several physical symptoms that strongly resemble hot flashes:
- Sweating
- Rapid heart rate
- Flushing
- Chills
- Tingling sensations
It is very possible that men who feel the “hot flash” may be experiencing physical symptoms of anxiety or high stress associated with this time of life. There is a specific condition known as midlife anxiety. This type of anxiety is not due to hormonal fluctuations but rather a result of dealing with the issues that surface during midlife.[3]
Other possible factors that have been linked to these menopausal-like symptoms in men include:
- Poor sleep
- Poor diet
- Not exercising regularly
- Over-consumption of alcohol
- Smoking
So, while a lot is happening in a man’s life in midlife, significant hormonal fluctuations do not appear to be one of them. Rather, it appears that how male midlife is managed has a significant impact on how it is experienced.[4]
What Can Be Done to Treat Male Hot Flashes?
The short answer is quite a lot. Many of the factors associated with male midlife and those thought to contribute to the experience of hot flashes are manageable.
Manage Your Lifestyle
Focus on the “Big 3”—diet, exercise, and sleep. These factors are key to maintaining good health. Each of them is also positively correlated with stress/anxiety reduction and improved mood.
Manage Your Emotional Well-Being
Make time to take care of yourself and relax and recharge. Allocate time for friends and family. If you’re struggling with a problem, talk it out with a trusted friend. If you find that your problems are overwhelming or keeping you from enjoying life in the way you want to, reach out for professional help.
Sometimes, talking to someone who can be objective helps you see things in a whole new way. A therapist can teach you skills to cope with your anxiety and depression. Reducing your levels of anxiety and depression may help alleviate your experience of hot flashes. If you prefer to avoid the expense and time commitment often involved in working with a therapist, you may be an excellent candidate for online therapy, which is more affordable, discrete, and efficient.
Consult With Your Doctor
If you find that your symptoms are increasingly bothersome, even with your lifestyle changes, reach out to your healthcare provider or doctor. Even though you may not be dealing with hormonal issues, your symptoms are real. There are effective treatments for reducing your symptoms as well as for treating the anxiety and depression that may underlie those symptoms.
Other Midlife Changes
There are some other bodily changes men tend to face during midlife that could potentially be associated with hot flashes, though far less common. These are:
- Androgen deprivation therapy
- Lifestyle factors
Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT)
ADT is a common treatment for men with prostate cancer. Among its most common side effects are hot flashes. Approximately 80% of men who undergo ADT report experiencing hot flashes.[5]
In the absence of ADT therapy, the cause of hot flashes can be related to lifestyle factors, if not from anxiety or stress, rather than hormones.
Lifestyle Factors
Men tend to experience several other changes during midlife:
- Mood swings and irritability
- Decreased muscle mass
- Reduced ability to exercise as strenuously as they once did
- Fat redistribution, such as developing a large belly or breasts (gynecomastia)
- Cardiovascular issues such as high cholesterol or heart disease
- Diabetes
- Lower energy
- Sleep disturbances
- Poor concentration and short-term memory
These changes are not necessarily linked to hot flashes but can be the root cause of some midlife anxiety and are always worth mentioning to your doctor.
Final Thoughts
One of the hardest things to do is ask for help, but you’re not alone. While you’re unlikely to get a diagnosis of “male menopause,” you will find that your doctor understands what you mean and will be able to offer you options to reduce those bothersome symptoms. You don’t have to sweat it alone.
References
- Hot flashes – Symptoms and causes. (2020, April 24). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790
- Wu, F. C., Tajar, A., Pye, S. R., Silman, A. J., Finn, J. D., O’Neill, T. W., Bartfai, G., Casanueva, F., Forti, G., Giwercman, A., Huhtaniemi, I. T., Kula, K., Punab, M., Boonen, S., Vanderschueren, D., & European Male Aging Study Group (2008). Hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis disruptions in older men are differentially linked to age and modifiable risk factors: the European Male Aging Study. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 93(7), 2737–2745. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2007-1972
- Beutel, M. E., Glaesmer, H., Wiltink, J., Marian, H., & Brähler, E. (2010). Life satisfaction, anxiety, depression and resilience across the life span of men. The aging male: the official journal of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male, 13(1), 32–39. https://doi.org/10.3109/13685530903296698
- Watkins, E. S. (2007). The Medicalisation of Male Menopause in America. Social History of Medicine, 20(2), 369–388. https://doi.org/10.1093/shm/hkm039
- Casey, R. G., Corcoran, N. M., & Goldenberg, S. L. (2012). Quality of life issues in men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy: a review. Asian journal of andrology, 14(2), 226–231. https://doi.org/10.1038/aja.2011.108
Dawn Ferrara is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a doctor of Psychology with additional certification in the telemental health field. She is passionate about helping people find solutions that work and believes that every person has the power to be successful. Her practice is in South Louisiana.