Menopause Symptoms: Heart Palpitations
What Causes Heart Palpitations During Menopause?
Heart palpitations are heartbeats that you suddenly notice more than regular heartbeats. During a palpitation, your heart may pound, flutter, race, or beat irregularly. Palpitations are often short-lived, lasting just a few seconds or, at worse, a few minutes. Heart palpitations may seem alarming, but they are often harmless and do not necessarily signal a serious problem. However, you should still see a doctor if you are experiencing them.
If you feel your heart racing or missing a beat you could have menopause heart palpitations. This is a common symptom of perimenopause. Heart palpitations are a direct result of lower levels of the female hormone estrogen, which leads to an overstimulation of the heart. Such a drop in estrogen can be linked to an increase in both heart rate and frequency in palpitations, and non-threatening arrhythmias.
Are Heart Palpitations Normal?
While heart palpitations are normally nothing to worry about, they should not be ignored. If you are experiencing any kind of palpitations it is strongly advised to consult your GP for a diagnosis, and to rule out any abnormalities. Doctors will particularly want to investigate if the palpitations are linked to any kind of shortness of breath, dizziness, or chest discomfort. Menopause heart palpitations can increase heart rates by 8 to 16 beats per minute. Some women, however, have reported much bigger increases, with their heart rates reaching up to 200 beats per minute… which is way higher than even when you had your first kiss!
What Can You Do ?
If you are experiencing irregular heartbeats as one of your menopause symptoms then these can me treated with natural methods. As it is being caused by reduced levels of estrogen, the treatment can involve lifestyle changes and natural remedies combined. A few lifestyle changes may help to cut down the occurrence of menopausal palpitations. They include:
- Reducing caffeine intake by drinking less coffee and other caffeine-based drinks.
- Cutting back or avoiding stimulants, such as cigarettes and alcohol.
- Practicing relaxation techniques, such as yoga, mindfulness, and breathing exercises.