Recognizing the Signs of PAD
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) isn’t “just” about your blood vessels — it dramatically increases your risks of heart attack and stroke. Early treatment is essential, and that starts with recognizing these PAD symptoms.
Is Menopause Causing My Heart Palpitations?
Heart palpitations can be alarming at any age, but especially when they coincide with other changes that can affect your health — like menopause. While heart palpitations are often benign, they can sometimes indicate a more serious underlying problem. Knowing why palpitations become more common during menopause can help you decide when it’s time to have your heart health evaluated.
As a leading cardiovascular care specialist, Anthony B. Lewis, MD, FACC, is skilled in helping women manage their heart health, relying on a deep understanding of the unique challenges women face at every stage of life. Dr. Lewis and the team at TLC Medical Group Inc. explain the link between menopause and heart palpitations so you can make informed choices about your health.
Heart palpitations: The basics
Heart palpitations can cause different symptoms: You might feel like there’s a fluttering in your chest or throat, or your heart might feel like it’s racing, pounding, “flopping,” or skipping beats. Typically, palpitations are temporary, and lots of issues can cause or contribute to them, including:
- Stress
- Caffeine or alcohol intake
- Exercise
- Thyroid issues
- Mood disorders
- Hormone changes
That last item — hormone changes — is essentially why women experience more palpitations once they approach and enter menopause, when estrogen levels plummet.
Estrogen affects heart health in a few ways. When estrogen levels decline, blood pressure tends to increase along with cholesterol levels. Both of these effects increase your risk of heart disease.
But estrogen can also affect your heart’s electrical activity — the system that keeps your heart beating regularly. This change can definitely lead to palpitations — but the story doesn’t end there.
Menopause is also a time when many women experience age-related changes, like a reduction in physical activity, sleep changes, and weight gain, as well as other factors that can have an impact on heart health and function. This combination of factors can make it challenging to figure out why palpitations are happening — and that’s why it’s essential to schedule a heart evaluation with Dr. Lewis.
Managing palpitations
Even if palpitations are mild and temporary, they still shouldn’t be ignored. Yes, sometimes those changes in heart rhythm are benign and associated with hormone fluctuations, becoming less frequent as your body adjusts to menopause.
However, at other times, they can be a sign of a more serious heart problem or a systemic issue, such as thyroid disease or anemia. Determining what factors are at play requires cardiac testing, so you can get the treatment you need to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.
Your exam
For most women, an electrocardiogram (EKG) is the first step in identifying irregular heart activity, sometimes followed by a wearable monitor that tracks their heart activity for 24 hours (or sometimes longer).
Depending on the results of these tests, Dr. Lewis may recommend cardiac stress testing or imaging tests, like an echocardiogram, to identify abnormal activity and gain a clear picture of your heart’s function. He may order lab work, too, like blood testing to check your cholesterol levels or monitor for thyroid conditions or anemia.
Once Dr. Lewis identifies the cause of your palpitations, he prescribes targeted therapies that might include medications and lifestyle adjustments, like losing weight, increasing physical activity, or cutting back on caffeine or alcohol. In some instances — for instance, if he diagnoses an arrhythmia — he may recommend additional testing or interventions aimed at stabilizing your heartbeat.
Take control of your heart health
Heart palpitations during menopause — or at any point in your life — can definitely be nerve-racking, but the good news is, they’re usually not a serious problem. That doesn’t mean it’s OK to ignore them, though: Some palpitations can be a sign of a serious problem that requires prompt intervention to prevent life-threatening complications.
Plus, because menopause increases your risk of heart disease, scheduling a cardiovascular workup once you enter menopause is a smart step toward maintaining your heart health as you get older. And of course, it also provides you with much-needed peace of mind.
If you’re experiencing palpitations, don’t wait — request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Lewis and the team at TLC Medical Group in Port St. Lucie, Florida, today.
You Might Also Enjoy...
How are Thyroid Disease and Atrial Fibrillation Linked?
Most people know atrial fibrillation (AFib) involves the heart, but what many don’t know is that the thyroid gland can also play a role in AFib. In fact, if you have a thyroid condition, you could have an elevated risk of AFib. Here’s why.
6 Practical Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure
High blood pressure affects millions of men and women, increasing the risk of serious health issues like heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes. The upside: You can bring your numbers down by taking a few easy steps, like the six outlined here.
Why Are My Varicose Veins Worse During My Period?
If your varicose vein symptoms worsen during your periods, you’re not alone. Many women find that their veins become more visible and more painful during menstruation. Here, learn the reason why.
How to Prevent Leg Swelling During a Flight
Flying is definitely a convenient way to get from one place to another, but unfortunately, all that sitting still increases your risk of leg swelling. Here's what you can do to combat this relatively common “side effect” of air travel.
5 Treatable Causes of Chest Pain
Chest pain can be alarming, but the good news is, it’s not always dangerous, it’s almost always treatable. Here, learn about five causes of chest pain that can be relieved with proper medical care.