Ep. 72 Blood Pressure, Hot Flashes & Menopause — What's the Link?
Tue Feb 03 2026
Hot flashes, sudden blood pressure spikes, heart palpitations, and nighttime wake-ups are some of the most unsettling symptoms women experience during perimenopause and menopause, and yet they're rarely explained in a way that actually makes sense. In this episode of The GoodLife in Health and Wellness, Dr. Kate Duncan explores the often-overlooked connection between blood pressure changes, hot flashes, and the autonomic nervous system during midlife hormone transitions.
As part of our Heart and Hormone Health series, this episode breaks down how estrogen fluctuations influence vascular reactivity, nervous system balance, nitric oxide production, and stress physiology. You'll learn why hot flashes are not random, why blood pressure can spike even when you feel calm, and how the nervous system plays a central role in both symptoms. Using evidence-based research and functional medicine insight, Dr. Duncan explains what's happening beneath the surface, and why so many women are told "everything looks normal" while still feeling anything but.
This episode also covers the role of inflammation, gut health, sleep disruption, and stress history in amplifying symptoms, and shares practical, science-backed strategies to help stabilize blood pressure, reduce hot flashes, and support cardiovascular resilience during perimenopause and menopause.
If you've ever felt confused, dismissed, or frustrated by midlife changes in your body, this episode will give you clarity, validation, and a more empowered way forward.
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Hot flashes, sudden blood pressure spikes, heart palpitations, and nighttime wake-ups are some of the most unsettling symptoms women experience during perimenopause and menopause, and yet they're rarely explained in a way that actually makes sense. In this episode of The GoodLife in Health and Wellness, Dr. Kate Duncan explores the often-overlooked connection between blood pressure changes, hot flashes, and the autonomic nervous system during midlife hormone transitions. As part of our Heart and Hormone Health series, this episode breaks down how estrogen fluctuations influence vascular reactivity, nervous system balance, nitric oxide production, and stress physiology. You'll learn why hot flashes are not random, why blood pressure can spike even when you feel calm, and how the nervous system plays a central role in both symptoms. Using evidence-based research and functional medicine insight, Dr. Duncan explains what's happening beneath the surface, and why so many women are told "everything looks normal" while still feeling anything but. This episode also covers the role of inflammation, gut health, sleep disruption, and stress history in amplifying symptoms, and shares practical, science-backed strategies to help stabilize blood pressure, reduce hot flashes, and support cardiovascular resilience during perimenopause and menopause. If you've ever felt confused, dismissed, or frustrated by midlife changes in your body, this episode will give you clarity, validation, and a more empowered way forward.