Why Your Heart Races During Menopause and What To Do

The number one cause of death among women is cardiovascular disease, so if you suddenly begin having heart palpitations, it can be scary. However, changes in your heart rate are an incredibly common symptom of menopause. 

At A Woman’s Wellspring, Stephanie Taylor, MD, PhD, and her staff offer menopause support to our patients. One of the biggest issues patients have with modern medicine is the feeling of being just another number, rather than a human being who needs connection and care. Dr. Taylor is a primary care physician who offers unhurried appointments, thorough care, and support during one of the most significant life changes—menopause. 

Heart palpitation basics

Before discussing the connection between heart palpitations and menopause, it is essential to define what heart palpitations are. At the simplest level, heart palpitations are changes in your heart rate. You may feel like your heart is racing, fluttering, or pounding. 

If you run up the stairs, your heart rate probably spikes suddenly. Perhaps your partner says, “We need to talk,” in a serious way, and it feels like your heart drops into your stomach. Maybe you get a promotion at work, and when your boss tells you, it feels like your heart skips a beat. 

Those are examples of normal heart palpitations. When you have such sensations on occasion, you don’t need to worry. However, if you have a history of heart disease, palpitations are accompanied by chest pain or discomfort, if you faint, feel very dizzy, or experience severe shortness of breath, you should seek medical care immediately. 

Menopause and heart palpitations

Maybe you expect some menopause symptoms, like hot flashes or night sweats. Most women do. 

But menopause may bring many symptoms you don’t expect, including heart palpitations. One recent study found that as many as 54% of women experience heart palpitations as a symptom of menopause. 

During the childbearing years, your body produces varying levels of estrogen, depending on where you are in your cycle. When you reach perimenopause, the years leading up to menopause, you produce less estrogen. 

It may come as a surprise to learn that estrogen plays a role in regulating your heart rhythm through your nervous system. This is why so many women experience heart palpitations as a symptom of menopause. 

Perimenopause and menopause

Often, when we talk about menopause, we are really talking about perimenopause. Menopause is one day—the day it has been 12 months since your last menstrual period. The 8-10 year period before that day, when your body begins to produce less estrogen. 

Toward the end of perimenopause, the amount of estrogen you have drops dramatically, and that’s when you’re most likely to have heart palpitations. Even after menopause, your body continues making less and less estrogen, and it’s possible to continue having irregular heartbeats. 

What to do

First, be assured that your concerns are valid. If you feel worried about heart palpitations, it’s a good idea to address those worries with Dr. Taylor. Since cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in women, concerns about your heart health are serious. 

Second, take a look at your overall routines and habits. Adjusting your nutrition and activity levels can help you manage menopause symptoms more effectively overall. 

Finally, keep in mind that treatments for menopausal symptoms are available and can help you live more comfortably. Dr. Taylor provides a thorough and personalized examination, making recommendations tailored specifically to you based on conversations, a physical exam, and blood tests. 

Don’t just live with uncomfortable symptoms. Schedule an appointment at A Woman’s Wellspring and get expert medical guidance.