Menopausal Heart Palpitations: Causes, Symptoms, Tests and Treatments

Understanding Menopausal Heart Palpitations and Their Link to Cardiac Health

Many women going through menopause experience an occasional skipped heartbeat or a fluttering in the chest. While these sensations may seem harmless, they could indicate an underlying heart condition.

Heart palpitations are feelings that your heart is pounding, racing, or skipping beats. During menopause, fluctuating hormones directly impact heart function, increasing the risk for palpitations and arrhythmias.

While heart palpitations may be harmless for some women, they can signal serious cardiac issues for others. Learning about the connection between menopause and heart palpitations can help you determine if your symptoms require medical evaluation.

What Causes Heart Palpitations During Menopause?

Hormone changes during perimenopause and menopause are the main culprit behind heart palpitations in women over 40. Heres how hormone fluctuations can disrupt your heartbeat:

Estrogen Decline

Estrogen helps control heart rhythm and the utilization of calcium within heart cells. As estrogen drops during menopause, abnormalities in heart rhythms are more likely to occur.

Altered Adrenal Hormones

Adrenal glands produce stress hormones that accelerate your heart rate and increase blood pressure. Menopause often causes dysregulation of adrenal hormones, leading to palpitations.

Changed Electrolyte Levels

Fluctuations in hormones that regulate potassium, calcium, and sodium can cause electrical conduction issues in the heart.

Increased Inflammation

Lower estrogen during menopause is associated with increased inflammation. This irritation can affect electrical pathways in the heart.

Risk Factors For Menopausal Heart Palpitations

While hormone changes primarily drive menopausal heart palpitations, some women face increased risks, including those with:

• History of heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Thyroid disorders
• Smoking habit
• High cholesterol
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• High stress
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Caffeine or alcohol dependence

Types of Menopausal Heart Palpitations

Palpitations can feel different for each woman. Here are some of the most common types of menopausal heart palpitations:

Skipped Beats

Also called premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), skipped beats make you feel like your heart skips or flutters. Theyre often harmless.

Racing Heartbeat

Tachycardia refers to a resting heart rate over 100 bpm. Periods of rapid, pounding heartbeats are common during menopause.

Irregular Pulse

Feeling like your heart rhythm is erratic suggests atrial fibrillation. This requires medical evaluation since it increases stroke risk.

Heart Fluttering

A fluttering heart sensation often signals atrial fibrillation but may be non-threatening extrasystoles.

Chest Tightness

Palpitations can cause chest discomfort, fullness, and tightness, mimicking heart attack symptoms.

When To See a Doctor for Palpitations

Occasional, brief palpitations usually arent concerning. However, see your doctor if you experience:

• Prolonged palpitations lasting over 5 minutes
• Very rapid heart rate over 150 bpm
• Frequent or persistent daily palpitations
• Palpitations combined with chest pain, dizziness or lightheadedness
• New, more noticeable palpitations after 50 years old

At your appointment, your doctor will review your symptoms, order tests to detect heart abnormalities, and check for underlying health conditions. This allows them to determine appropriate treatment options.

Diagnostic Tests for Heart Palpitations

If youre experiencing heart palpitations, your doctor may use the following diagnostic tests and procedures to evaluate your heart health:

Medical History and Physical Exam

Your doctor will ask about your palpitations and review risk factors like high blood pressure. A physical exam allows them to listen to your heart.

Blood Tests

Blood work can check for signs of heart damage, electrolyte imbalances, thyroid dysfunction, and diabetes conditions linked to palpitations.

Electrocardiogram (EKG)

An EKG monitors your heart rhythm and electrical activity. It can detect irregular rhythms, damage from prior heart attacks, and heart defects.

Holter Monitor

For infrequent or intermittent palpitations, you may wear a portable Holter monitor for 24-48 hours to track heart activity during normal life.

Event Monitor

If episodes occur sporadically over weeks or months, you may use an event monitor. When symptoms occur, you activate the recorder to transmit data.

Echocardiogram

An ultrasound of your heart lets doctors evaluate its structure and pumping function. It shows heart valve function and screens for cardiomyopathy.

Stress Test

Exercise stress testing monitors the hearts electrical activity and blood flow during exertion when symptoms are more likely to occur.

Medical Treatments for Menopausal Heart Palpitations

Treatment depends on the underlying cause and severity of your palpitations. Options may include:

Menopausal Hormone Therapy

Estrogen therapy may reduce palpitations by stabilizing hormone levels. This helps strengthen the heart and regulate its rhythm.

Blood Pressure Medication

Drugs like beta-blockers slow your heart rate while calcium channel blockers relax blood vessels. Both can ease palpitations.

Blood Thinners

Anticoagulant medications like warfarin prevent blood clots, lowering stroke risk for certain arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation.

Antiarrhythmic Drugs

For serious heart rhythm disorders, medications like flecainide and amiodarone maintain normal sinus rhythm and heart rate.

Pacemakers

A pacemaker device provides electrical pulses to maintain a suitable heart rhythm with appropriate stimulation of the ventricles.

Ablation Therapy

Catheter ablation destroys small areas of heart tissue causing abnormal electrical signals to restore a normal heart rhythm.

Lifestyle Changes To Reduce Menopausal Heart Palpitations

Making certain lifestyle adjustments can help lower your risk of troubling palpitations during menopause:

Increase Physical Activity

Regular moderate aerobic exercise improves heart health and efficiency, reducing palpitation frequency.

Improve Sleep Habits

Getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep prevents fatigue and lowers stress hormones that can trigger palpitations.

Reduce Stimulant Intake

Limit or avoid caffeinated coffee, tea, and soda as well as alcohol to help control arrhythmias.

Manage Stress Levels

Relaxation practices like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing activate the parasympathetic nervous system to slow

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.