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What is that distinct feeling in your chest that kicks up your heart rate and leaves you feeling a bit breathless? It might feel as though your heart just skipped a beat and you’re left wondering, “Did my body just take me on a little roller coaster ride, or was that a heart palpitation?”
In this blog, our founder, Ana G. Herrera, will discuss the relationship between heart palpitations, anxiety, hormonal fluctuations, and menopause.
Heart palpitations are quite common, but it’s important to know about this. In addition to hormones, they are also linked to our thyroid, nutrient deficiencies, excessive caffeine, medications, mitral valve prolapse, and heart arrhythmias.
Although they can happen even if you have no heart disease, they may also be linked to a serious heart condition. If it’s something you’re experiencing for the first time, happens frequently, and comes with dizziness and pain, please! – see your doctor.
Heart Palpitations and Hormones
I found out that heart palpitations related to hormonal fluctuations can occur in women of all ages. Premenopausal women may experience heart palpitations during specific phases of their menstrual cycle when hormones are fluctuating. Pregnant women may also experience palpitations from rising hormones, increased blood volume, and anemia. Heart palpitations in menopausal women occur from fluctuating and declining hormone levels.
Another fascinating fact: our sex hormones can influence the rhythm of the heart by modifying the channels that regulate electrical activity. Menopause can be associated with a decrease in heart rate variability (called HRV) due to either reduced or increased outflow to the heart. Changes in the electrical activity of the heart along with an increase in sympathetic tone, catecholamines (hormones made by our adrenal glands), and cortisol can contribute to the development of heart palpitations.
Oh, that stress…
Research confirms that women in midlife and those entering menopause do experience palpitations. This seems to fall into the “thanks for telling me what I already know” category. We know they’re happening, but why?
I dug a little deeper: some correlations are not too surprising. More frequent and severe heart palpitations are associated with insomnia, a higher level of stress, depression, and poor quality of life. Plus if you don’t have enough physical activity, and go through surgical versus natural menopause… this contributes to the frequency and severity of heart palpitations. For those who have gone through surgical menopause like I did – listen to your heart.
What makes our experience of stress during perimenopause and menopause different from our earlier years?
Estrogen and progesterone have an important influence on the stress response and the cardiovascular system! Without them, our hearts flutter – and not in a good way!!
Our ratios of estrogen and progesterone influence how our heart maintains a regular rate and rhythm. Fluctuating hormone levels can lead to changes in the behavior and expression of “myocardial ion channels” (these are protein molecules that span across the cell membrane allowing the passage of ions from one side of the membrane to the other) and therefore interfere with a normal heartbeat.
When hormones are balanced, the heart is less likely to experience an irregular rhythm in the presence of stress, this is why we insist SO much on prevention – focus on balancing your hormones to get all the health benefits!
Important to know: The Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)…
Yes, they may have a cardiovascular effect – this can vary depending on the type of hormone used (synthetic versus bioidentical) and the route of delivery (oral, transdermal). Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate biological processes. The message that hormones deliver is based on their chemical structure. Synthetic hormones have a different structure than bioidentical hormones and may produce divergent effects within the cardiovascular system as compared to bioidentical hormones. For example, the use of oral forms of estrogen can be prothrombotic whereas the use of transdermal hormones does not seem to present the same complication. Our products stimulate your hormonal balance naturally, (they do not contain hormones, at all) and the reason we have chosen a transdermal approach is precisely because it’s so safe and effective.
Magnesium may help with Heart Palpitations
This is not just us saying it, so get your dosage in the best form… and avoid gut issues by applying it transdermally.
Do you have a particular subject you would like me to cover? Do not hesitate to email me!
Help us spread the word about hormonal health by sharing this information with others or directing them to our website. We believe that everyone deserves to be informed about their hormonal well-being, and sharing knowledge is an act of care and compassion! Together, let’s create awareness and empower individuals to prioritize their hormonal health.
Ana Gonzalez Herrera (CEO & Founder) is the driving force behind Hormone University, a transformative venture born from her own life journey. Her story is one of resilience and dedication, marked by her mission to empower women worldwide in their pursuit of hormonal balance. Ana’s passion led to this educational platform aimed at improving women’s hormone health through accessible knowledge.
