Is This Burning Sensation the Same as Hot Flashes? - Menopause Center - Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Menopause Is a Burning Sensation the Same as Hot Flashes By Dr. Joann Manson, MD, MPH, PhDReviewed: July 6, 2009Fact-CheckedI am 56 years old. Recently I started having hot flashes. Initially I would just get hot and within a few seconds I'd start to sweat. But now I am feeling something closer to a burning sensation, especially in my hands and feet, and discomfort in my body as a whole. Do women experience hot flashes in different ways like this? I know I don't have diabetes — but is it safe to say this is part of menopause? — Indira, Puerto Rico Different women experience hot flashes and other menopause symptoms in different ways, so the burning sensation you're experiencing could indeed be due to hot flashes. You are pretty savvy to mention that you don’t have diabetes because that was the first thing that came to mind when I read your question. I'm assuming that you have recently been screened for diabetes, but if not, you may want to bring this up with your doctor just to be sure this is not the cause of your symptoms. You might also want to be screened for deficiencies in vitamin B12 or other vitamins, as well as electrolyte abnormalities — these can be linked to tingling sensations as well. Even if the tests are normal, you may want to consider taking a multivitamin to boost your levels. If you're noticing these symptoms only on one side of your body, it could be a precursor to a stroke so be sure to discuss this with your doctor. It could have a neurological basis and be something that needs to be evaluated more quickly. If the symptoms are on both sides of your body and involve both your arms and legs, it's more likely to be a symptom of hot flashes (or one of the neuropathy conditions discussed above). You should monitor whether the tingling symptoms occur at the same time as the flashes. You can also try some techniques to relieve the hot flashes and discuss the matter with your doctor if you don’t feel better fairly quickly. Learn more in the Everyday Health Menopause Center. NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Women' s Health Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The Latest in Menopause Foot Massage Can Help Ease Sleep Trouble Other Menopausal Symptoms A foot rub may improve sleep and reduce anxiety and fatigue in menopausal women, a new study shows.By Beth LevineSeptember 21, 2022 A History of Stressors and Childhood Trauma May Predict Worse Menopausal Symptoms and Well-BeingProject Viva’s 20-year study is the first to look at the long-term effects of abuse.By Beth LevineSeptember 16, 2022 Everything You Need to Know About Menopausal Hot FlashesIncluding what's heating you up to how to cool down.By Blake MillerAugust 18, 2022 Are Hot Flashes Worse for Black Women Than White Women For Black women, menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats can be more frequent — and intense — than those in white women.By Sheryl Nance-NashAugust 18, 2022 What Are Menopause Cold Flashes Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause — but their counterparts, cold flashes, can also occur. Learn why they happen and how you...By Elizabeth YunAugust 18, 2022 Are Night Sweats Waking You Up Night sweats are one of the most common symptoms of menopause — and they can seriously mess up your sleep. Use these tips to stay cool.By Karen AspAugust 18, 2022 How Can Menopause Change Your Gut Microbiome A study of Hispanic women found changes in the mix of gut bacteria after menopause associated with risk factors for heart disease and metabolic disorders...By Lisa RapaportJuly 20, 2022 Study Finds Jaw Pain May Worsen During MenopauseResearch has found a strong link between estrogen and the experience of pain.By Becky UphamMay 24, 2022 Obesity Increases Heart Failure Risk Associated With Late MenopauseWomen with obesity who go through menopause at 55 or older are more likely to develop heart failure later in life, a new study suggests.By Lisa RapaportApril 21, 2022 The Keto Diet and Menopause What You Need to KnowWomen over 40 often seek new ways to lose weight in response to age-related physical changes. Is the ketogenic diet the right diet for midlife?By Meryl Davids LandauApril 11, 2022 MORE IN New Therapies for Hot Flashes Are on the Horizon Treating Menopausal and Perimenopausal Symptoms 9 Tricks to Battle Memory Loss in Menopause