Hot flashes and nausea are most commonly caused by hormonal imbalances in the body, most notably, by sex hormones. For women, a decrease in estrogen is often to blame, whereas in men, testosterone deficiency can create the problem. Sometimes, the symptoms occur for reasons not related to those hormones at all. People who suffer from panic disorder and even those experiencing withdrawal from drugs or alcohol can suffer from hot flashes and nausea in addition to other forms of discomfort. Many times, a person infected with a virus that accompanies a fever will also notice rapid temperature fluctuations and feelings of nausea.
When a woman reaches the end of her fertile years, she will generally experience the natural completion of her menstrual cycles, known as menopause. Hot flashes are frequent indicators of menopause, and it usually occurs as a result of a decline of the hormone, estrogen. In men, certain forms of therapy for medical conditions, such as prostate cancer, can induce a decline in the male hormone, testosterone. In both females and males, when respective hormone levels drop, hot flashes and nausea are common. While hormonal variations in the body are usually the cause of this combination of symptoms, other conditions are occasionally also responsible.
Sometimes, the symptoms arise when someone is experiencing a fever due to a virus or infection. Nausea may wax and wane, but temperature perception may vacillate between feelings of uncomfortable warmth and chilliness. One moment, a person might feel overwhelming heat and may be compelled to shed layers of clothing or bedding, only to cover-up quickly due to sudden coldness. Once the virus is cured and the fever breaks, those symptoms generally subside.
Mental or psychological conditions can also induce hot flashes and nausea. For example, when a panic attack is experienced, the body may react with a number of symptoms, including these. Chest pain, difficulty breathing, and feelings of terror are also likely to occur, resulting from surges of adrenaline. Panic and anxiety disorders, or any time during periods of high stress, the body may manifest physical symptoms as a result of chemicals the brain produces.
Withdrawal symptoms that arise as a result of a drug or alcohol addiction can often include hot flashes, nausea, and other uncomfortable reactions that result from the absence of the addictive substance. In a detoxification program, many times, therapy will include medications to ease discomfort. While it is often distressing for the person suffering, usually, effects are short-lived. In most cases, the symptoms will cease over time.