Why do you feel like you’re on fire?

Hot flushes vary between women, but are often described as a creeping sensation of heat spreading across the body and face – sometimes with sweating, palpitations and anxiety, explains GP and menopause specialist Dr Louise Newson. Add warm weather, either at home or on holiday, and they can be debilitating.

‘They may happen multiple times a week or even several times a day,’ says Dr Newson. ‘Some women might have a flush lasting a few seconds, and for others they can go on for several minutes.’

Exact causes are unknown, but it’s thought that falling levels of oestrogen during the menopause affect noradrenaline, a hormone which regulates body temperature.