When your ovaries aren’t functioning properly, they don’t produce enough estrogen. This can cause premature menopause symptoms, including hot flashes. Doctors don’t know why hot flashes are so common during the menopausal transition, but it has something to do with changing hormone levels. If you have MS, you may be unusually sensitive to heat. Even a slight increase in body temperature can cause your MS symptoms to appear or worsen. People with this condition tend to have an increased sensitivity to temperature, both hot and cold.

Hyperthyroidism puts your metabolism into overdrive, which can also result in feeling unusually hot as well as excessive sweating.

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Hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause, occurring in as many as 3 out of 4 people. Hot flashes are most prevalent in the year before and year after your last period, but they can continue for as long as 14 years. Short, intense episodes of overheating during or after pregnancy are better described as hot flashes. Research suggests as many as 35 percent of women may experience a hot flash during their pregnancy. Hot and humid days are particularly challenging, but this worsening of symptoms can also occur after a hot bath, a fever, or an intense workout.

Some prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications can cause excessive heat and sweating, including:

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For some, the decrease in estrogen can lead to a symptom more commonly associated with menopause: hot flashes. https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Living-Well-With-MS/Diet-Exercise-Healthy-Behaviors/Heat-Temperature-Sensitivity#section-0 To be sure, ask your healthcare provider if any medications you take could be the root of the issue. 4. Food and drink Symptoms typically return to baseline once you cool down. Less often, people with MS may experience what’s known as a paroxysmal symptom, such as a sudden hot flash. Your sympathetic nervous system plays a role in both how much you sweat and how you physically respond to emotional stress. If you experience moderate to severe social anxiety, for example, you may be familiar with these fight-or-flight physical reactions when you’re faced with a big crowd.