Heart Palpitations - Menopause Symptoms - The Menopause Minutes
The Menopause minutes series is designed to help women understand their menopause. Livia Francis talks through the basics of all the menopause symptoms that ladies suffer in a series that is intended to be crush the stigma around menopause.
Now let's talk heart palpitations.
Oestrogen is important because it helps to protect the heart, blood vessels, bone, brain, skin, vagina. In menopause our decline in oestrogen will therefore affect many different parts of our body.
Oestrogen protects the arteries of a woman’s heart in a number of ways, including by reducing build-up of fatty plaque. This means that, after the menopause, you are at an increased risk of heart and circulatory disease. Low oestrogen can increase cholesterol levels, which can further increase your risk of developing heart and circulatory disease.
Menopause can cause palpitations (feeling your heart beating faster than usual) due to the changing hormone levels. This can sometimes happen during hot flushes. Palpitations are usually harmless.
I still have the palpitations. A few times per month. Nothing in particular triggers them. Possibly, just my hormone balance. We are not encouraged to monitor our hormones on a weekly basis so many of us just accept it! I speak from a personal perspective only and have had reassurance from my GP. But if you are concerned, as I was, do seek medical advice.
From a lifestyle point of view we need to keep strong and healthy, with not only cardio training for our heart & lung health but also resistance training for our posture and strength. Move more. Let your body benefit from a variety of exercise modes that DO NOT cause distress to the body yet help us with weight management long term.
To contact Livia Francis for exercise choices in menopause and ways to introduce healthy eating:
http://www.fitfreedom.co.uk
Instagram: @livfitfreedom
Ref: Menopause & your heart by Dr Louise Newson