title: Plasma cortisol concentrations in women with menopausal flushes.
abstract: A wide variety of stressful stimuli has been shown to increase cortisol secretion. Women with post-menopausal flushes report that their flushes cause acute physical discomfort. We studied the effect of hot flushes on plasma cortisol concentrations in 7 women with frequent post-menopausal flushes. Subjects were monitored subjectively and objectively with a skin temperature recorder over a 3-h period (8:00-11:00 a.m.). The 8:00 a.m. cortisol levels were the highest. These were followed by a decline in plasma levels, suggesting the normal circadian variation in cortisol concentrations. No increase in plasma cortisol levels was found during or after the flush episodes. These results suggest that, in our experimental setting, post-menopausal flushes do not increase cortisol secretion.
mesh_terms: D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D002979:Climacteric; D005260:Female; D005483:Flushing / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone