# TEMPERATURE & SLEEP MODULATION OF MENOPAUSAL HOT FLASHES

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE · 1993 · $214,640

## Abstract

Many menopausal women experience interrupted sleep due to frequent hot
flashes that awaken them several times during the night. Hot flashes can
continue for many years postmenopausally, posing a problem of
considerable magnitude for millions of women. More women seek medical
help for hot flashes than for any other menopausal problem. Anecdotally,
women report that cool temperature reduces the frequency or intensity of
their hot flashes. We have demonstrated that daytime hot flashes are
suppressed by a cool ambient temperature (Ta). We now propose to extend
this work to determine whether cool Tas can improve sleep by inhibiting
nocturnal hot flashes or altering sleep characteristics.

The object of the proposed research is to study the relationships between
thermoregulatory variables, hot flashes, and sleep. Ambient temperature,
sleep, hot flashes, and body temperature: The effect of ambient
temperature on the frequency and intensity of hot flashes, on sleep
characteristics and on body temperature will be examined by exposing
menopausal women who have never had hot flashes, and those with frequent
hot flashes to neutral and cool ambient temperatures for 24 hour periods,
during which time sleep and thermophysiological variables (heart rate,
skin resistance, skin and core temperatures, and sensation) will be
measured. Arousal state, Ta and hot flash pattern: Distribution of hot
flashes across sleep stages will be tabulated to determine whether and
how sleep may influence hot flash patterns. The information provided by
this research will further our understanding of hot flashes and of the
interactions between thermoregulation and sleep. In addition,
recommendations of appropriate ambient temperature regimens may offer an
effective alternative to pharmacological treatment for the HFs and sleep
disturbances of menopausal women.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3123872
- **Project number:** 1R01AG012194-01
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** F4N1QNPB95M4
- **Principal Investigator:** FREDI KRONENBERG
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $214,640
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1993-09-20 → 1995-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3123872

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3123872, TEMPERATURE & SLEEP MODULATION OF MENOPAUSAL HOT FLASHES (1R01AG012194-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3123872. Licensed CC0.

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