1) The room is too hot - If you nudge the thermostat up a bit too high, the temperature in the room can climb quickly and may exceed the comfort zone you were seeking. If you are asleep when this happens, your conscious mind may not notice, but your unconscious mind may trigger the body's defense mechanism against overheating, known as sweating. Similarly, turning up the electric blanket, wearing too many conventional blankets, wearing too many layers of clothing, or using a hot water bottle or other warming device can create temperature extremes that may be mistaken for hot flashes.

2) Spicy foods or overeating - Food is fuel, and if you take in too much fuel, the body will go into overdrive in an attempt to digest it and move it on out, resulting in an uncomfortable warm feeling. Similarly, if you are not used to spicy food, the body may react by raising its temperature.

3) Cancer - There is a medical condition called a carcinoid syndrome. This is a type of endocrine tumor that can cause large amounts of serotonin to be secreted, simulating the hot flash reaction.

4) Medications - There are a large number of medications can raise the body temperature as a side effect of their intended use. These include antibiotics (Isoniazid), antiarrhythmic drugs (Procainamide, Quinidina), antiepileptic drugs (Phenytoin), high blood pressure drugs (Alpha-methyldopa) and many others.

5) Infections - If a body part is inflamed, the body temperature can rise as your immune system attempts to battle the condition.

What Does It Feel Like?

Women often describe hot flashes as beginning in the head and radiating downward, but the hot flash can start anywhere. The methods the body uses to regulate hot and cold temperatures seem to be askew when this happens, although how the hormonal changes going on affect that process is not yet fully understood.