Steam Rising from Woman’s Head: Menopause Awareness and Empathy

“Every menopausal woman is feeling you right now!” one user wrote, echoing the many reactions Monique’s video garnered from women who empathized with her condition. “That’s right, ma’am. We are literally furnaces!” another joked.

Men, on the other hand, were utterly baffled by the phenomenon, with some believing the footage was the result of video editing or filters, much to the amusement of Monique’s female viewership.

Footage of a woman emanating large amounts of smoke from her head went viral, leaving male netizens baffled

Monique’s female viewers immediately recognized the phenomenon, with many stating that they had experienced its symptoms firsthand.

Hot flashes, as they are commonly called, are frequent symptoms of menopause, the period in a woman’s life when her ovaries stop producing hormones and menstrual periods end—a byproduct of the hormonal fluctuations it causes.

The sudden heat wave primarily affects the upper body, especially the face, neck, and chest. It’s accompanied by sweating, an increased heart rate, flushed skin, and, as Monique showcased, the release of steam in cold climates.

According to Dr. Cynthia Abraham, an Ob-Gyn at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York, hot flashes affect as many as 8 in 10 menopausal women in the United States.

“Hot flashes usually happen at least daily. In fact, about a third of women have more than ten hot flashes per day,” she explained. “For some, hot flashes feel mild, but for others, they are more severe and may seriously disrupt day-to-day life.”

Gynecologists recommend a combination of lifestyle changes and hormonal intervention to manage the effects of menopause

For Abraham, it’s essential to make specific lifestyle changes to manage the effects of these sudden heat waves. “It’s important to wear layered clothing so women can easily take them off to cool down,” she stated.

“Certain foods, such as those with spicy ingredients, and drinks with alcohol or caffeine are also best avoided,” Abraham pointed out. Conversely, she recommends eating tofu, soy, and certain herbs to help alleviate symptoms.

If lifestyle and dietary changes prove ineffective, gynecologists recommend a hormonal replacement protocol. This protocol includes the intake of exogenous estrogen, which helps the body regulate its temperature more effectively by bringing hormone levels back to their pre-menopausal state.

Abraham also pointed to a more controversial solution: antidepressants, and antiseizure medications. “Some are effective for the treatment of hot flashes. These are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs),” she added.

“Another prescription, an antiseizure medication called gabapentin, has helped my patients manage their hot flashes.”

Researchers explained how estrogen levels are critical in regulating the body’s temperature, with lower levels increasing the likelihood of overregulation

Medical literature has discussed the importance of estrogen in regulating heat in humans. A 2021 study conducted by the University of California explained how, when hormonal levels drop, the hypothalamus—described as the body’s internal thermostat—becomes more sensitive to body temperature changes.

When the hypothalamus thinks the body is too warm, it signals the heart, blood vessels, and nervous system to cool down. Conversely, if it believes the body is too cold, it reacts by increasing heart palpitations, which usually leads to feelings of discomfort and anxiety in menopausal women.

The study also revealed the importance of estrogens for heat dissipation, which is directly related to the steam emanating from Tracey Monique’s head. “Estrogens affect heat dissipation by regulating cutaneous vasoconstriction and fluid vaporization,” the paper explains. 

“Estrogens also alter evaporative heat loss, which includes sweating in humans, panting in dogs, and salivation in rodents.”

Tracey Monique’s hot flash not only caused confusion, laughter, and surprise but also served as a way to increase awareness about the effects of menopause

As Monique’s video reached more and more people on social media, it had the unintentional effect of increasing awareness about menopause and its uncomfortable effects, such as hot flashes, on women.

“I gotta call my mom and apologize for making fun of her,” one viewer wrote, to which Monique responded: “Please do.”

“Wait, is this for real? I’ve never seen this before,” a female user said. “Oh, just you wait, my sweet summer child. It’ll happen to you, too,” another replied.

“I feel like I needed to see this to prepare,” said one viewer.

“This should be in the menopausal handbook, so they know what we’re going through!”

Bored Panda has contacted Tracey Monique for comment.

“Every man needs to see this,” wrote one user, as others joined in to raise awareness about the effects of menopause