Hot flashes are a distress symptom of menopause and for women with breast cancer, it further disrupts their quality of life. A new study evaluated hot flashes among women and published their findings online on January 20 in the journal Menopause.
The study authors note women with breast cancer are at higher risk for suffering from hot flashes; in part, this is due to the effects of cancer treatment on estrogen levels. They suggest that other factors such as anxiety may play a part in the problem. Therefore, they conducted a study to evaluate the relationships between anxiety and hot flashes among women undergoing treatment for breast cancer; in addition, they attempted to clarify the degree of this association.
The study group comprised 56 women who had recently undergone treatment for breast cancer. Assessment of hot flashes and anxiety was made via a 14-day Hot Flashes and Anxiety Diary. In addition, anxiety and hot flashes were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-anxiety subscale and the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire-vasomotor subscale. In addition to the diary, hot flashes were objectively measured for a continuous 24-hour period using home-based sternal (chest bone) skin conductance.
The researchers found that a higher anxiety level recorded on the diary was significantly associated with a shorter time to reach the hot flash peak, as measured by sternal skin conductance. In addition, greater anxiety predicted more severe self-reported hot flashes on the following night, both assessed with the diary. In contrast, self-reported diurnal (day vs. night) and nocturnal (night) hot flashes on the diary did not predict next-day anxiety level.
The authors concluded that their study found a significant association between anxiety and faster-developing objectively measured hot flashes, In addition, anxiety has been found to significantly predict subsequent increases in self-reported hot flashes; thus, suggesting that strategies that target anxiety could potentially have a beneficial effect on hot flashes in women with breast cancer.
Take home message:
Although this study was conducted on women with breast cancer who suffered from hot flashes, the findings might also apply to women without cancer who are under stress. Obviously, having breast cancer is stressful in itself. However, various techniques are available to reduce anxiety, including Yoga, Tai Chi, general exercise, and support groups.
[“source-examiner”]