1. a state of misfortune or affliction. 2. something hard to endure. 3. something that causes or entails suffering. Familiarity information: HARDSHIP used as a noun is uncommon.
A single hot flash can last anywhere from one to five minutes and may occur a few times a week for some women or daily for others. When hot flashes are severe, they may strike four or five times an hour or 20 to 30 times a day, Omicioli says.
1 Caffeine is a stimulant, so foods and drinks that contain caffeine may aggravate hot flashes. 2  Try to limit yourself to 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine per day, or about one-and-a-half cups of coffee.