Autoimmune diseases like Lupus (SLE), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), and Sjögren's syndrome can cause hot flashes or heat intolerance due to immune system attacks affecting the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which controls body temperature, or by causing inflammation and hormonal disruptions. Other conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and thyroid issues like Graves' disease (hyperthyroidism) are also linked to flushing and overheating.
I found an article that discusses autoimmune diseases and the common symptoms they share. There are many autoimmune diseases that have symptoms such as night sweats, fever, and hot flashes. It goes on to say that night sweats are often a sign of an underlying infection.
Early lupus warning signs often mimic other illnesses, but key indicators include extreme fatigue, fever, joint pain/swelling, skin rashes (especially a butterfly-shaped rash on the face), hair loss, and sensitivity to sunlight, alongside potential issues like headaches, mouth sores, and fingers/toes turning white or blue in the cold (Raynaud's). These symptoms can appear suddenly or slowly and come and go in flares.
Common symptoms of autoimmune disease include:
Your autonomic nervous system controls things you don't have to think about, like your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and sweating. Anything that throws off how it works can cause flushing. That includes Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, MS, and spinal injury and nerve damage.
Physicians need to be aware of medical conditions that may mimic hot flashes (26). These include flashing caused by systemic diseases such as carcinoid syndrome, systemic mast cell disease, pheochromocytoma, medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, pancreatic islet cell tumors, and renal cell carcinoma.
While menopause is one of the most common causes of hot flashes, thyroid disorders are also a common cause. Viral infections like the flu can cause hot flashes, too, as can certain medications. If you have hot flashes and aren't in perimenopause, another condition or factor could be responsible.
If you have a positive ANA test, an ENA test can check the blood for the presence of antinuclear antibodies that are known to be markers of certain diseases. The ENA test can help your health care team and your rheumatologist diagnose autoimmune diseases such as: Lupus.
Common Lupus Symptoms
The "worst" autoimmune diseases are subjective but often ranked by severity, impact on life expectancy, and organ damage, with top contenders including Giant Cell Myocarditis (deadly heart inflammation), Vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation like GPA), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (multi-organ attacks), Multiple Sclerosis (nervous system damage), and Type 1 Diabetes (pancreas destruction). These conditions can severely affect quality of life, cause permanent disability, and reduce lifespan if not managed effectively, though rare ones like Giant Cell Myocarditis are acutely fatal.
And they can be like those of other conditions. No one test can diagnose lupus. A healthcare professional makes the diagnosis based on the results of blood and urine tests, symptoms, medical history and a physical exam.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or "lupus"), as described in medical papers, on the internet, and in public media, generally refers to the disease as seen at its peak onset ages: That is, lupus most often appears when a person is between 15 and 35 years of age – typically with symptoms of arthritis, rash, hair loss, ...
Rosacea is a condition characterized by redness, flushing, broken blood vessels, inflammation and bumps that may appear like an acne breakout against a background of 'damaged skin'. It generally starts in the center of the face, gradually spreading to the cheeks, chin, forehead, nose and even eyes.
Lupus and Sjogren's syndrome are both autoimmune diseases. Up to 5.5 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with lupus or Sjogren's syndrome. However, Sjogren's syndrome occurs up to three times more than lupus, but one-third of lupus patients also have Sjogren's syndrome.
Vitamin D supplementation may modestly decrease the risk of infection and the severity of COVID-19. Vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of menopausal symptoms, i.e., hot flashes, sleep disturbances, depression, and sexual function.
Lupus can also cause other problems in the abdomen, including peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining) and ascites (a build-up of fluids in the abdomen). Symptoms of peritonitis and ascites include: Abdominal pain and swelling. Nausea and vomiting.
The headaches may come in episodes or may be an all-day or frequent occurrence. Headaches may be related to tension in the muscles around the eyes, face, neck or shoulders. Migraines are another common type of headache experienced by people with lupus.
Other skin conditions that sometimes mimic the skin problems of lupus include melasma, psoriasis, eczema (atopic dermatitis), and facial seborrheic dermatitis. A dermatologist can diagnose these skin conditions. The symptoms of clinical depression can mimic lupus symptoms, and vice versa.
The Autoimmune Disorder Panel is a combination of 8 health tests that measure and evaluate the body. Our Autoimmune Disorder Panel includes the following tests: Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Differential. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that makes your glands produce less moisture than they should. It causes chronic (long-term) dryness throughout your body, especially in your eyes and mouth. Sjögren's syndrome is pronounced “SHOW-gren's syndrome.” Some healthcare providers call it Sjögren's disease.
Excessive sweating, overheating, and hot flashes are common experiences for people living with lupus, especially those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), affecting many of the 1.5 million Americans with the condition.
But most research suggests that hot flashes happen when lower estrogen levels cause the body's heat manager, also called the hypothalamus, to respond to slight changes in body temperature.
Some diseases that can cause hot flashes include cancer of the ovaries, pituitary gland, uterus, and thyroid.