Hot flashes may be more than just a female problem. Menopause can be a very unpleasant experience for some women, with uncomfortable hot flashes plaguing many menopausal women for months to years, causing sleepless nights and a host of other problems. A new study has found that “the extra healthcare expenses and lost productivity of menopausal women with untreated hot flashes may cost the U.S. billions of dollars each year.” The researchers found that “women with hot flashes used more healthcare services, particularly outpatient services, than women without symptoms. The extra services added up to $1,336 more per person per year compared to women without symptoms, and the indirect economic loss due to missed work was an extra $770 per woman per year.” The authors noted that some of the extra healthcare costs come from trying to diagnose and treat problems, like chest pains, without addressing the root cause of menopausal symptoms.

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