hot flash
a typical menopausal symptom caused by decreased levels of estrogen and experienced as a sudden rush of heat to the neck, face, and sometimes other parts of the body that may last from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. It may begin with a sudden tingling in the fingers, toes, cheeks, or ears, and in some women it is followed by a sensation of cold. Fifty percent of women experience hot flashes around the time of menopause.