Menopause and Heart Palpitations

This article tries to answer the question "are heart palpitations caused by menopause" and discusses about menopause, heart palpitations and heart problems.

Menopause is the cessation of the monthly female menstrual cycle. This onset of menopause would be experienced when the ovary has stopped to secrete female hormones that regulate the development of the body as well as menstrual cycle and pregnancy. This will cause hormonal imbalances and lead to numerous symptoms including fatigue, weakness, weight gain, weight loss, digestive problems, hot flashes and joint pain. Heart palpitations from menopause is also a very common symptom.

Moreover, because there is a lack of estrogen the body reacts by shutting down the reproductive organs, women who have been through menopause are no longer fertile.

Onset of menopause is likely to begin at around the age of 50 years, but it can also be triggered earlier if a woman has a complete hysterectomy, had a serious illness or suffered from cancer requiring chemotherapy; which referred to as early onset menopause. In some cases if the woman is less than 40 it is considered to be premature menopause. Women who have not had a menstrual period for a year considered post menopausal.

As the body adapts to this new change it will react with certain symptoms some of the very well known symptoms are hot flashes and heart palpitations. Other physical signs which are manifestations of menopausal symptoms include insomnia, night sweats, increased light, fatigue, bloating headaches, insomnia, reduced sex drive, urinary incontinence, joint aches, weight gain and irregular menstrual periods during this transition period. Some signs are often the results of your body’s temperature control.

There are also psychological symptoms that may appear as the results of the hormonal changes such as depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, forgetfulness and lack of concentration.

Some will also experience a gradual change with their sexual habit i.e. discomforting moments during intercourse because of vaginal dryness and gradual decreasing interest in sexual activities.

These symptoms are considered to be normal, and may range in severity. Some women hardly even know they are experiencing menopause and notice very few of the above symptoms, while others have severe reactions.

Menopause and heart palpitations

Are heart palpitations caused by menopause? Palpitation is when the heart races repeatedly without any sign of stopping. It’s not only extremely uncomfortable, it’s downright frightening. Premature contractions cause the heart to beat twice really quickly, causing more blood to enter the heart on the third beat. This increased amount of blood makes the heart contract even more. In essence, it is a forceful pulsation that can sometimes be caused by stress. But, for some women heart palpitations are a major or early symptom of perimenopause and progesterone deficiency.

Stress can come from menopausal symptoms like irregular periods, annoying ringing of the ears (tinnitus), insomnia, panic attacks, depression, and everyday occurrences like the simple yelling and shouting of a child at the playground.

When one perceives a stressor, hormones form the brain pass into the bloodstream alerting the adrenal glands. In response they secrete corticosteroid hormone including cortisol.

High cortisol levels will speeds up blood sugar burning capacity of the body to provide an instant surge of energy. This causes the heart to beat faster in order to pump oxygen-bearing blood more quickly into body tissues. Moreover, too much of cortisol can lead to diabetes or high blood pressure.

The addition of caffeine loaded drinks can worsen this condition as can smoking. In order to avoid rapid heartbeat and heart palpitations from menopause, it is best to refrain from stress and maintain a healthy diet. Alcohol and coffee are known to excite the heart’s processes, causing it to work much harder than it has to.

For women with menopause, heart palpitations should be evaluated by their primary care provide, and maybe a visit to a cardiologist, to rule out any abnormalities. Once they have ruled out any serious underlying condition, they may be offered prescription drugs. A well-rounded program of nutritional supplements, dietary changes and stress reduction also will help in restoring hormonal balance and alleviating heart palpitations symptoms.

In addition, scientists have conducted numerous studies demonstrating the efficacy of black cohosh for relieving the discomforts of menopause, with minimal or no side effects. Cohosh has also been shown to help alleviate hot flashes, headaches, nervousness, irritability and heart palpitations associated with menopause.

By the time women reach menopause and stop menstruating altogether, acute problems linked with it are likely to disappear. However, women become increasingly vulnerable to serious health problems. Over the period, diminished supply of estrogen increases the likelihood of cardiac arrhythmia or other heart problems, osteoporosis and vaginal atrophy.

Menopause is considered to be a natural part of a woman’s aging process and experiences several symptoms of menopause are considered to be normal. In extreme cases, menopausal women may need medical attention to be treated properly. Otherwise, symptoms grow worse with menopause heart palpitations, increased nausea, urinary dysfunction, breast pain, and vaginal dryness. If a woman has any concerns during this time of her life it is best to seek the help of a medical professional, who will be able to offer advice and ways to reduce the severity of symptoms.