Question: I am 75 and long ago went through menopause. But I recently started experiencing hot flashes again. I’ve had some tests to my thyroid and for glucose, but things look normal. Do you have any idea what could be causing this?

Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Some uncommon medical conditions that affect the process of thermoregulation can cause hot flashes. For example, a type of endocrine tumor that secretes large amounts of the hormone serotonin can cause hot flashes. Hot flashes can also develop as a side effect of some medications and can sometimes occur with severe infections or cancers that may be associated with fevers and/or night sweats. Blood tests may be performed if the diagnosis is unclear, either to measure hormone levels or to look for signs of other conditions that could be responsible for the hot flashes.