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Irregular Heartbeat / Palpitations (AFib)
Racing heart, skipped beats, fluttering heartbeat
“It felt like my heart was doing gymnastics—fast, fluttery, and totally out of nowhere.”
Irregular Heartbeat / Palpitations (AFib)
Racing heart, skipped beats, fluttering heartbeat
“It felt like my heart was doing gymnastics—fast, fluttery, and totally out of nowhere.”
Irregular Heartbeat / Palpitations (AFib)
Racing heart, skipped beats, fluttering heartbeat
“It felt like my heart was doing gymnastics—fast, fluttery, and totally out of nowhere.”
What it feels like
Your heart skips, flutters, or pounds unexpectedly. It can feel scary—like you’ve had too much caffeine or like something’s off—but then it stops as suddenly as it started.
Why it catches you off-guard
It often hits when you’re not exerting yourself. Many women associate this with heart attacks—but in most cases, it’s hormonal.
What it feels like
Your heart skips, flutters, or pounds unexpectedly. It can feel scary—like you’ve had too much caffeine or like something’s off—but then it stops as suddenly as it started.
Why it catches you off-guard
It often hits when you’re not exerting yourself. Many women associate this with heart attacks—but in most cases, it’s hormonal.
What it feels like
Your heart skips, flutters, or pounds unexpectedly. It can feel scary—like you’ve had too much caffeine or like something’s off—but then it stops as suddenly as it started.
Why it catches you off-guard
It often hits when you’re not exerting yourself. Many women associate this with heart attacks—but in most cases, it’s hormonal.
You're not alone
Up to 25% of women report heart palpitations during perimenopause.
Reminder:
You know your body. Don’t dismiss it—but don’t panic, either. Talk to someone.
You're not alone
Up to 25% of women report heart palpitations during perimenopause.
Reminder:
You know your body. Don’t dismiss it—but don’t panic, either. Talk to someone.
You're not alone
Up to 25% of women report heart palpitations during perimenopause.
Reminder:
You know your body. Don’t dismiss it—but don’t panic, either. Talk to someone.
What's really happening
Many women report feeling sudden changes in their heartbeat during perimenopause—racing, skipping, fluttering, or pounding sensations. These episodes can be scary, especially if they happen at rest or during sleep. While most are harmless and caused by hormone shifts, they can feel intense and mimic anxiety or panic.
Many women report feeling sudden changes in their heartbeat during perimenopause—racing, skipping, fluttering, or pounding sensations. These episodes can be scary, especially if they happen at rest or during sleep. While most are harmless and caused by hormone shifts, they can feel intense and mimic anxiety or panic.
But why?
As estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, they affect your nervous system and how your heart regulates its rhythm.
As estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, they affect your nervous system and how your heart regulates its rhythm.
Scientific Breakdown
Estrogen plays a role in autonomic nervous system regulation, which controls heart rate and rhythm. Lower estrogen levels may make your body more sensitive to adrenaline and stress hormones, causing your heart to overreact to small stimuli. Progesterone, which has natural calming properties, also drops—contributing to increased excitability of the heart’s electrical system. The result: irregular beats, flutters, or palpitations.
• ↓ Estrogen → more adrenaline sensitivity → heightened heart rate
• ↓ Progesterone → less calming effect on nervous system
• Hot flashes, anxiety, and palpitations often cluster together
Estrogen plays a role in autonomic nervous system regulation, which controls heart rate and rhythm. Lower estrogen levels may make your body more sensitive to adrenaline and stress hormones, causing your heart to overreact to small stimuli. Progesterone, which has natural calming properties, also drops—contributing to increased excitability of the heart’s electrical system. The result: irregular beats, flutters, or palpitations.
• ↓ Estrogen → more adrenaline sensitivity → heightened heart rate
• ↓ Progesterone → less calming effect on nervous system
• Hot flashes, anxiety, and palpitations often cluster together
Essentially…
With hormone swings, your heart gets jumpy. The good news? It’s common—and often manageable.
With hormone swings, your heart gets jumpy. The good news? It’s common—and often manageable.
See a doctor if …
• Palpitations last more than a few minutes
• You also feel dizzy, faint, short of breath, or have chest pain
• You have a history of heart conditions or arrhythmias
• Palpitations last more than a few minutes
• You also feel dizzy, faint, short of breath, or have chest pain
• You have a history of heart conditions or arrhythmias
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about
Irregular Heartbeat / Palpitations (AFib)
Irregular Heartbeat / Palpitations (AFib)
Q: Could this be AFib or something serious?
Sometimes—if it’s frequent or paired with chest pain or dizziness, see your doctor.
Q: Will it go away after menopause?
For many women, palpitations subside post-menopause.
Q: Does hormone therapy help?
Yes, especially when used early in the transition with other symptom clusters.
Q: Could this be AFib or something serious?
Sometimes—if it’s frequent or paired with chest pain or dizziness, see your doctor.
Q: Will it go away after menopause?
For many women, palpitations subside post-menopause.
Q: Does hormone therapy help?
Yes, especially when used early in the transition with other symptom clusters.
“Once I started tracking my symptoms and cut back on caffeine, things got better. But it was HT that really calmed the flutters. I sleep through the night now without waking up in a panic.”
— FLUXX community member, age 49
FLUXX Recommendations
1. Track your symptoms (time, triggers, duration) to share with your provider
2. Consider HT if palpitations cluster with other vasomotor symptoms
3. Reduce stimulants like caffeine and alcohol
1. Track your symptoms (time, triggers, duration) to share with your provider
2. Consider HT if palpitations cluster with other vasomotor symptoms
3. Reduce stimulants like caffeine and alcohol
Non-Hormonal Medications
• Beta blockers (if symptoms are frequent/intense)
• Anti-anxiety meds (short-term, targeted use)
• Beta blockers (if symptoms are frequent/intense)
• Anti-anxiety meds (short-term, targeted use)
• Magnesium glycinate or citrate (supports cardiac rhythm)
• Adaptogens like ashwagandha (stress regulation)
• Herbal teas (e.g., chamomile, lemon balm) for calming effect
• Magnesium glycinate or citrate (supports cardiac rhythm)
• Adaptogens like ashwagandha (stress regulation)
• Herbal teas (e.g., chamomile, lemon balm) for calming effect
Lifestyle Suggestions
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and large meals before bed
• Practice breathwork, meditation, or vagus nerve activation
• Stay hydrated (dehydration can trigger palpitations)
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and large meals before bed
• Practice breathwork, meditation, or vagus nerve activation
• Stay hydrated (dehydration can trigger palpitations)
Myth-Busting
Heart palpitations don’t always mean heart disease—but they’re not just “in your head” either.
Heart palpitations don’t always mean heart disease—but they’re not just “in your head” either.
Modern Guidance
Rule out cardiac causes, especially if symptoms are new. If hormone-related, HT may help. Cutting back on alcohol, caffeine, and stress can reduce flares. You’re not imagining this—many women experience it in midlife.
Rule out cardiac causes, especially if symptoms are new. If hormone-related, HT may help. Cutting back on alcohol, caffeine, and stress can reduce flares. You’re not imagining this—many women experience it in midlife.
Ask yourself
• “Do these palpitations happen with hot flashes or anxiety?”
• “Do I have any family history of heart disease or arrhythmias?”
• “Do I feel comfortable trying hormone therapy?”
• “Do these palpitations happen with hot flashes or anxiety?”
• “Do I have any family history of heart disease or arrhythmias?”
• “Do I feel comfortable trying hormone therapy?”
Ask your doctor
• “Could these palpitations be hormonal?”
• “Do I need any heart tests?”
• “Would HT or magnesium help in my case?”
• “Could these palpitations be hormonal?”
• “Do I need any heart tests?”
• “Would HT or magnesium help in my case?”
While most menopause-related palpitations are benign, it’s important to rule out serious cardiac conditions—especially if symptoms persist or escalate.
While most menopause-related palpitations are benign, it’s important to rule out serious cardiac conditions—especially if symptoms persist or escalate.
Feel like yourself again.
FLUXX © 2025
Feel like yourself again.
FLUXX © 2025
Feel like yourself again.
FLUXX © 2025