Breathing Practices for Menopause-related Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: A Case Report

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS), or hot flashes and night sweats, are a form of temperature dysfunction that occur due to hormonal changes during menopause. Although hormonal and non-hormonal therapies are available, they are often avoided due to comorbidities or preferences about medication use or side effects. Intentional, regulated breathing practices offer a potential solution.

This case report demonstrates the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a combined fast + slow breathing practice for the treatment and prevention of menopause-related VMS. Within just one week of implementing a 15-20 minute daily breath practice, a 51 year-old menopausal woman went from experiencing 7-12 severe night sweats per night to zero. More research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this cost-free, scalable, accessible approach in a broad population of women.