Menopause And Heart Palpitations: How to Keep Your Heart Healthy During Menopause

Menopause is a natural part of ageing and usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 in women. During menopause, the body’s production of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle, decreases. This can lead to a number of physical and emotional symptoms, including hot flashes, mood changes, and sleep disturbances. Heart palpitations are a common symptom of menopause. They are characterised by the feeling of a rapid, fluttering, or pounding heart rate. Palpitations can be caused by a variety of factors, including changes in hormone levels, stress, caffeine, and certain medications. In most cases, heart palpitations are benign and do not indicate a serious medical condition. However, if you are experiencing heart palpitations and are concerned about your health, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider for further evaluation.

There are a number of ways to manage heart palpitations during menopause, including:

• Reducing stress: Stress can contribute to heart palpitations, so finding ways to manage stress can be helpful. This may include activities such as exercise, yoga, or meditation.
• Avoiding triggers: Some people find that certain foods or drinks, such as caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco, can trigger heart palpitations. Avoiding these triggers may help reduce the frequency and severity of palpitations.
• Managing hormone levels: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be an option for some women to help manage menopausal symptoms, including heart palpitations. However, HRT is not right for everyone and should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
• Medications: In some cases, a healthcare provider may prescribe medications to help manage heart palpitations. These may include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, or anti-arrhythmic drugs.

Just like getting grey hair and wrinkles, menopause is a sign of ageing for women. When a woman enters her menopausal phase it is common to experience hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, and weight gain. It is important to understand that Menopause is not a disease and is entirely natural for women in their mid 40-50s. That being said, you must be aware that it also affects a woman’s heart health. As per Heart.Org (ref. link), more than one in three females get heart disease about 10 years after menopause. So, let’s take a closer look at how menopause affects the heart. 

How Menopause Affects The Heart? 

Menopause is considered to have begun when a woman does not menstruate for 12 consecutive months. When women start missing their period cycle they develop metabolic syndrome. This is an amalgamation of excess belly fat, high cholesterol, and elevated blood sugar, all of which increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. In fact, as per American Heart Association (ref. link), heart disease is the leading cause of death amongst women, causing 1 in 3 deaths per year.

Besides weight gain and high cholesterol, depression and insomnia are common symptoms of menopause. Depression, stress, and anxiety reduce blood flow to the heart, which leads to high blood pressure and an increase in levels of stress hormones like cortisol, adding more risk to heart health.

How To Keep Your Heart Healthy During Menopause? 

Menopause is difficult for every woman, but making some lifestyle alterations can not only reduce the risk of heart ailments, it can also improve your quality of life.

1. Switch To A Heart-Healthy Diet : Yes, your diet plays a vital role during menopause. Bid adieu to fats and try to include more fibre, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Reduce the consumption of salt, sugar, and processed food. Opt for lean meats and low-fat dairy as they can also help with your heart health. 
2. Physical Activity Is A Must: The American Heart Association recommends that women going through menopause engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Whether it’s walking, cycling, dancing, or jogging, you should set a goal to exercise at least five times a week. 
3. Reduce/Avoid Consuming Tobacco: During menopause your body undergoes hormonal changes that are made worse by smoking. Try to reduce smoking so that you can eventually quit. 
4. Visit Your Doctor Regularly: When you enter the menopause stage make sure you get a routine health checkup. It’s essential to monitor your health during this phase and seek treatment if necessary. 
5. Deal With Stress In A Healthy Way: Stress leads to anxiety and depression, thereby increasing your chances of getting heart disease. Engage in activities like meditation and yoga, sleep well, and lead a healthy lifestyle. 
6. Control Your Cholesterol Levels: HDL and LDL are two types of cholesterol levels. LDL is bad cholesterol, and HDL is good cholesterol. During menopause women lose estrogen which then gives rise to LDL levels in the body. Therefore you should keep your cholesterol levels in check by following a healthy diet and talking to your doctor about this. 

Finally, pair these lifestyle changes with the use of a heart monitoring device to know exactly how you’re impacting your heart. Purchase the revolutionary Frontier X2 and be on your way to a healthier tomorrow.

Frequently Asked Questions on Menopause :

What Are The Signs of Menopause? 

Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, Difficulty Sleeping, Reduced Sex Drive, Mood Swings & Weight Gain. 

Does Menopause Affect Heart Health? 

Due To The Loss Of Estrogen and Increase In Hormonal Changes, Menopause Increases The Risk Of Women Getting Cardiovascular Diseases. 

Ways To Keep Your Heart Healthy During Menopause? 

Quit Smoking, Follow A Healthy Diet, Exercise, and Don’t Miss Out On Your Regular Health Checkups. 

Menopause Age In Women? 

Women in their early 50s start experiencing menopause. In some cases, women go into the menopause phase in their mid-40s as well. 

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Best Heart Rate Monitor | Heart Rate While Running | AFib Symptoms | Mental Stress | Arrhythmia Causes | Heart Palpitation Causes | Increased Heart Rate | Healthy Heart Tips | Atrial Fibrillation | Normal Resting Heart Rate

Frontier X2:

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