What to Know About Hot Flashes After Age 60

Written by Martha Anne Tudor
Medically Reviewed by Lalitha Kadali, MBBS, MD on August 31, 2026

When you hear "hot flash," you may think of menopause. That's when your period stops for good. While most women experience menopause in their 40s or 50s, it's possible to have hot flashes in your 60s and beyond.

If you're over 60 and having hot flashes, night sweats, or other menopause-related vasomotor symptoms (VMS), talk to your doctor. They can help you find a treatment plan that'll help with your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

It's a quick burst of warmth and drenching sweat caused by hormonal changes during menopause. It lasts about 30 seconds to five minutes. If you sweat a lot, you may lose too much body heat and have chills. Other medical conditions can also cause hot flashes, but they're most common in menopause. You may continue to have them after menopause.

Hot flashes vary in intensity and frequency. Your hot flashes may be mild or severe enough to disrupt your daily activities. Hot flashes can happen at any time. Nighttime hot flashes, also known as night sweats, can wake you from sleep and can cause long-term sleep disturbances.

You might have hot flashes every day during menopause and for up to 7-10 years afterward. They can lead to irritability, fatigue, and forgetfulness.

They're most often caused by changes in hormone levels before, during, and after menopause. But it's not clear exactly how hormonal changes cause hot flashes. Studies show that vasomotor symptoms may be the result of dropping estrogen levels and changes in an area of your brain that controls body temperature. Hot flashes usually occur when low estrogen levels affect your body's thermostat. That's when you become more sensitive to subtle changes in body temperature.

Sometimes, hot flashes and night sweats are caused by something other than menopause. These potential causes include:

  • Cancer treatment side effects
  • Certain cancers
  • Medication side effects
  • Thyroid problems

Not all women who go through menopause experience hot flashes. It's not clear why some women do have them. Factors that may increase your risk of experiencing hot flashes include:

Obesity. Overweight women often experience more hot flashes, and they tend to be more severe.

Smoking. Women who smoke are more likely to experience hot flashes.

Race. Black women report more hot flashes during menopause than women of other races, although it's not clear why.

There are a few different treatments you can try to lessen the severity and frequency of hot flashes: 

Lifestyle changes. Dress in layers that you can remove if you feel a hot flash coming on. It may help to carry a portable fan to help you cool down.

Avoid certain foods and drinks. Alcohol, spicy foods, and caffeine can make hot flashes worse.

‌Stop smoking. If you smoke, quitting can help lessen the number and intensity of your hot flashes.

‌Healthy weight. Keep exercising and try to stay fit. 

‌Mind-body practices. Self-calming techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, and yoga can help improve menopausal symptoms like hot flashes.

‌Nonhormone options. An FDA-approved medicine, paroxetine is a low-dose antidepressant that uses a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to treat hot flashes.‌

Women who use an antidepressant for hot flashes generally take a lower dose than people who use the medication to treat depression. Side effects depend on the type of antidepressant you take. They can include:

  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Jitteriness
  • Drowsiness

Additionally, the FDA has approved elinzanetant (Lynkuet) and fezolinetant (Veozah) to treat hot flashes. These drugs reduce the number of hot flashes by blocking two types of neurokinins, molecules involved in the brain's temperature control system. Side effects may include:

  • Stomach pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Insomnia
  • Fatigue 

Hormone therapy. Hormone therapy helps the levels of estrogen become stable. Estrogen is a hormone that helps develop and maintain both your reproductive system and female traits. Hormone therapy can also maintain progesterone, a hormone released by your ovaries. It is a very effective treatment for hot flashes in women who can use it.

Before trying hormones, keep in mind that they may raise your chance of having a stroke, heart attack, or breast cancer. Hormones are typically given at the lowest dose and for the shortest possible period of time.

Deciding whether and how to treat the symptoms of hot flashes can be complicated and personal. Discuss your symptoms, medical history, and preferences with your doctor.

Hot flashes can happen well past menopause. They usually become less frequent and less intense with time. They're caused by the same changes in estrogen levels and disruptions to your body's temperature regulation that happen in menopause. They can be triggered by stress, alcohol, caffeine, or spicy foods. Talk with your doctor, as hot flashes past 60 can sometimes signal other health issues such as thyroid problems. There are effective treatments, including hormone therapy or nonhormonal medications, depending on your health history.

Can hot flashes after 60 be a sign of heart disease, dementia, or other serious health problems?

Maybe. Having hot flashes after 60 doesn't mean something is seriously wrong, but they show up more often in women with higher heart and brain health risks.

What can I do if hot flashes and night sweats disrupt my sleep?

Cool your room, use moisture-wicking sheets, and avoid alcohol, caffeine, and spicy food at night. Try slow-paced breathing when a flash starts. If it severely affects your sleep, ask your doctor about cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for menopause symptoms, as welll as hormone therapy or nonhormonal medications such as low-dose antidepressants or fezolinetant.

When do hot flashes after 60 need urgent medical attention instead of just home management?

It depends. They may be serious when they come with chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, sudden confusion or weakness, fever, or drenching sweats with unexplained weight loss. These could signal heart problems, stroke, infection, or other serious issues. See your doctor right away if your hot flashes suddenly worsen or change after being stable for years. Gradual, mild hot flashes are usually just a lingering symptom, not a red flag.

Which lifestyle changes can help reduce hot flashes in your 60s and 70s?

Managing your weight and avoiding triggers such as alcohol, caffeine, or spicy food can help with hot flashes. Also, if you smoke, quit. Structured techniques such as menopause-focused CBT or paced breathing can also help. Regular exercise and practices that lower stress, such as yoga and mindfulness, can also help, but the effects are more modest. Combining a few of these works better than relying on just one. If you need more help, talk with your doctor.

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