Palpitations and the Menopause

Mar 06, 2021

One of the earliest indications that I noticed on my journey into Menopause, was Palpitations. These started as small fluttery feelings in my chest, and sometimes I would notice them up to 30 or 40 times a day.

They were never linked to exercise or moving and I could wake up in the night and feel my heart racing.

A trip to my GP allayed my fears and confirmed what I thought I knew already. It’s another symptom of the Peri Menopause!

Oestrogen has many functions one of which is that it protects our heart.

When Oestrogen levels start to drop, a woman is at a greater risk of heart disease. Oestrogen protects the heart in a variety of ways, it helps to remove the fatty plaque that can build up in blood vessels ( like a kettle gets furred up ) and it plays a role in keeping our cholesterol levels low.

This means that after the menopause women are at a far higher risk of heart disease and exercise is one of the primary ways we can protect against this.

Exercise will help protect a woman’s heart after Menopause

Palpitations may also occur due to the changes in our hormones - sometimes at the same time as a hot flush, but not always, and are usually harmless.

What does it feel like?

Most women say that a palpitation feels like a fluttery feeling in their chest. You might feel like your heart is missing a beat or beating in a rhythm that doesn’t feel normal. It can come on when you are resting, watching a film or even lying in bed - as long as you don’t have any chest pain you can just ignore it, however if you are concerned or they are becoming more frequent, please speak to your GP or healthcare provider.

What is the cause?

In addition to the decline in Oestrogen, there is a link to dehydration, night sweats, fatigue and stress.

What can you do about them?

Palpitations are not generally dangerous but they are an indication that hormone levels are likely to be fluctuating and this is the PERFECT time to look at your lifestyle choices.