Menopause Palpitations: Causes, Symptoms and When to Seek Help
Heart palpitations can feel unsettling, particularly when your heartbeat suddenly becomes faster, stronger or more noticeable than usual. During perimenopause and menopause, some women experience racing, fluttering, pounding or skipped heartbeats.
While palpitations can occur during the menopause transition, they are not always caused by hormonal changes. Understanding the possible causes and knowing when to seek medical advice can help you decide what to do next.
Key Takeaways
- Palpitations can occur during perimenopause and menopause, sometimes alongside hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety or sleep problems.
- Menopause is not always the cause of palpitations. Stress, lack of sleep, caffeine, alcohol, certain medicines, anaemia, thyroid problems and heart rhythm conditions can also cause them.
- Recurring, persistent or worsening palpitations should be assessed rather than automatically being attributed to hormonal changes.
- Palpitations accompanied by chest pain, significant shortness of breath, fainting or severe dizziness require urgent medical attention.
- Treatment depends on the underlying cause. If menopause symptoms are contributing, appropriate treatment options can be discussed with a healthcare professional.
What Do Heart Palpitations Feel Like?
Heart palpitations are sensations that make you more aware of your heartbeat. You may notice your heart beating faster than usual, pounding or thumping, fluttering, or seeming to skip or add a beat.
Palpitations can be felt in your chest, neck or throat. They may last for a few seconds, several minutes or longer.
Some women notice palpitations while resting, during a hot flush, after waking during the night or during periods of stress or anxiety. The experience can vary considerably from one person to another.
Although palpitations can feel alarming, they are often not caused by a serious problem. However, new, recurring or unexplained palpitations should not automatically be assumed to be a symptom of menopause.
Can Menopause Cause Heart Palpitations?
Palpitations can occur during both perimenopause and menopause. However, research into the exact relationship between hormonal changes and palpitations is still developing.
During perimenopause, hormone levels fluctuate before menopause is reached. These changes can occur alongside a range of symptoms, including hot flushes, night sweats, sleep problems and changes in mood. Some women may also become more aware of their heartbeat during this time.
Palpitations may also occur around a hot flush. A sudden sensation of heat, sweating, anxiety or changes in heart rate can make your heartbeat feel more noticeable.
However, it is important not to assume that every episode of palpitations is caused by menopause. A number of other factors and health conditions can produce similar symptoms.
If you’re unsure whether you are experiencing perimenopause or menopause, understanding the difference between perimenopause and menopause can help you put your symptoms into context.
Also Read: Menopause Headaches: Causes, Symptoms and How to Find Relief
Why might palpitations happen during perimenopause and menopause?
There is no single explanation for why some women experience palpitations during the menopause transition. Several factors may be involved.
Hormonal changes: Fluctuating hormone levels during perimenopause may influence a range of physical symptoms, although the exact relationship between hormonal changes and palpitations is not fully understood.
Hot flushes and night sweats: Palpitations may occur at the same time as a hot flush or night sweat. The sudden physical changes can make your heartbeat more noticeable.
Stress and anxiety: Changes in mood and increased anxiety can occur during perimenopause and menopause. Stress and anxiety can also cause your heart to beat faster or make you more aware of your heartbeat.
Poor sleep: Night sweats and other menopause symptoms can interrupt sleep. Sleep deprivation may make palpitations or other physical sensations more noticeable.
What Else Can Cause Heart Palpitations?
Although palpitations can occur during menopause, there are many other possible causes.
These include:
- stress or anxiety
- lack of sleep
- caffeine
- alcohol
- some medicines
- dehydration
- iron deficiency anaemia
- an overactive thyroid
- low blood sugar
- strenuous exercise
- heart rhythm problems such as an arrhythmia
Some heart conditions can also cause palpitations. This does not mean that every episode indicates a heart problem, but new, persistent or unexplained symptoms should be assessed appropriately.
Keeping a simple record of your palpitations may help you identify possible triggers. You could note when they occur, how long they last, what you were doing beforehand and whether you had recently consumed caffeine or alcohol.
Are Menopause Palpitations Serious?
Palpitations are often not caused by a serious condition, but their significance depends on what is causing them and whether other symptoms are present.
If your palpitations are occasional and brief and you otherwise feel well, they may not indicate a serious problem. However, you should not automatically assume that recurring or changing palpitations are simply part of menopause.
A healthcare professional can consider your symptoms, medical history, medicines and possible triggers and decide whether further assessment is appropriate.
When Should You See a Doctor About Menopause Palpitations?
Speak to a GP or other healthcare professional if your palpitations:
- keep coming back
- are becoming more frequent
- last longer than a few minutes
- are becoming more noticeable or troublesome
- are changing from your usual pattern
- occur alongside other symptoms that concern you
- happen if you have a known heart condition or relevant family history
You may also want to seek advice if you are experiencing palpitations alongside several other changes associated with perimenopause or menopause. A menopause consultation can provide an opportunity to discuss your symptoms, explore possible causes and consider whether further assessment or treatment may be appropriate.
The aim is to establish whether your symptoms could be associated with the menopause transition or whether another cause needs to be considered.
When should you seek urgent medical help?
Seek urgent medical attention if you are experiencing palpitations together with:
- chest pain
- significant shortness of breath
- fainting or feeling as though you may faint
- severe dizziness or light-headedness
If palpitations are ongoing and accompanied by these symptoms, seek emergency medical help.
How Are Heart Palpitations Diagnosed?
If you speak to a healthcare professional about palpitations, they may ask when the symptoms started, how often they occur and how long they last.
They may also ask about:
- your medical history
- medicines and supplements you take
- caffeine and alcohol consumption
- stress and anxiety
- sleep patterns
- other symptoms occurring at the same time
Depending on your symptoms and individual circumstances, your healthcare professional may check your pulse and blood pressure and arrange an electrocardiogram (ECG). An ECG records the electrical activity of your heart and can help identify some heart rhythm problems.
Further tests or longer-term heart monitoring may be considered if your symptoms suggest that this would be appropriate.
The purpose of an assessment is not simply to decide whether your palpitations are “menopause-related”. It is to understand what may be causing them so that appropriate treatment or management can be considered.
Can HRT Help With Menopause Palpitations?
HRT is an established treatment for several menopause symptoms, particularly hot flushes and night sweats. Whether HRT is appropriate for someone experiencing palpitations depends on their overall symptoms, medical history and individual circumstances.
If palpitations occur alongside other troublesome menopause symptoms, HRT may form part of a wider discussion about managing the menopause transition. However, unexplained palpitations should not automatically be attributed to menopause or treated with HRT without appropriate clinical consideration.
If you’re considering HRT, discussing the potential benefits and risks of HRT with a healthcare professional can help you understand whether it may be suitable for you.
What Can Help With Menopause Palpitations?
The most appropriate approach depends on what is causing your palpitations. If an underlying medical condition has been ruled out, identifying possible triggers and making some lifestyle changes may help.
Depending on your individual circumstances, you may find it helpful to:
- reduce caffeine if it appears to trigger your symptoms
- moderate your alcohol intake
- prioritise regular, good-quality sleep
- find ways to manage stress and anxiety
- stay adequately hydrated
- keep a record of when your palpitations occur and what may have preceded them
These measures are not a substitute for medical assessment if your symptoms are persistent, worsening or concerning.
Final Thoughts
Menopause palpitations can be an unsettling symptom, particularly when your heartbeat suddenly feels faster, stronger or irregular. They can occur during perimenopause and menopause, sometimes alongside hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety or sleep disruption.
However, menopause should not automatically be assumed to be the cause. Palpitations can have several other explanations, including anaemia, thyroid problems, medicines and heart rhythm conditions.
If your palpitations are recurring, worsening or accompanied by symptoms such as chest pain, significant breathlessness or fainting, seek appropriate medical attention.
Understanding the possible causes and having your symptoms assessed can help you move beyond wondering whether your palpitations are simply related to menopause and towards finding the right explanation and support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can menopause cause heart palpitations?
Yes, palpitations can occur during perimenopause and menopause. They may happen alongside symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety and sleep disruption. However, palpitations can also have other causes, so persistent or unexplained symptoms should be assessed.
What do menopause palpitations feel like?
They may feel like a racing, pounding or fluttering heartbeat, or as though your heart is skipping or adding a beat. Some women notice palpitations in their chest, neck or throat.
How long do menopause palpitations last?
Palpitations can last for a few seconds, several minutes or longer. There is no fixed duration for palpitations associated with menopause. If episodes last longer than a few minutes, keep returning or become more frequent, speak to a healthcare professional.
Can perimenopause cause a racing heart?
Perimenopause can be associated with a faster or more noticeable heartbeat. However, a racing heart can have several possible causes, so recurring or unexplained episodes should not automatically be attributed to hormonal changes.
Can HRT help with heart palpitations?
HRT can help treat several menopause symptoms, particularly hot flushes and night sweats. Whether HRT is appropriate when palpitations are present depends on the individual and whether the palpitations have been appropriately assessed.
When should I worry about menopause palpitations?
Speak to a healthcare professional if your palpitations keep returning, become more frequent, last longer than a few minutes or change significantly. If palpitations occur with chest pain, significant shortness of breath, severe dizziness or fainting, seek urgent medical attention.
About the Author
Dr Sandar Hlaing is a GP with a special interest in women’s health, hormonal wellbeing, medical weight management, hair loss concerns and healthy ageing. Through a personalised, evidence-based approach, she helps patients understand the underlying factors affecting their health and develop realistic treatment plans tailored to their individual needs.
