Perimenopause Heart Palpitations
Learn › Heart Palpitations
Perimenopause Heart Palpitations: Why Your Heart Races & What Helps
Written by the PAUSE+ team
A sudden fluttering, pounding or racing feeling in your chest, sometimes out of nowhere, sometimes alongside a hot flush or anxiety spike. It's one of the more frightening perimenopause symptoms — and while it's often hormonal, it's also one where getting properly checked matters.
When to see a doctor — please read this first
Please see your GP about any new heart palpitations so they can be properly assessed. Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if palpitations come with chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, or if you feel seriously unwell — these need urgent medical attention and should never be assumed to be “just hormones.” Perimenopause is a common and recognised cause of palpitations, but only a doctor can confirm that after ruling out heart rhythm problems, thyroid issues and other causes. This page is not a substitute for that assessment. Supplements are food, not medicine, and are not a treatment for palpitations.
Are heart palpitations a symptom of perimenopause?
Yes — palpitations are a recognised perimenopause symptom, often occurring alongside hot flushes or anxiety. They should still always be assessed by a doctor, both to confirm the cause and for your peace of mind.
Why does perimenopause cause heart palpitations?
Oestrogen influences the autonomic nervous system, which regulates heart rate, and fluctuating levels can make the heart more sensitive to adrenaline, leading to a racing or pounding sensation. Palpitations often occur alongside a hot flush, as the same surge that triggers flushing can also briefly speed up the heart. Anxiety, common in perimenopause, can independently cause or worsen the sensation of palpitations, creating a loop where palpitations cause anxiety and anxiety worsens palpitations.
What do perimenopause palpitations feel like?
Our girls describe a sudden fluttering or “skipped beat” feeling; a pounding heart that seems louder or faster than normal; palpitations arriving alongside a hot flush or wave of anxiety; and, understandably, real fear the first time it happens.
How long do perimenopause palpitations last?
Individual episodes are usually brief, lasting seconds to a few minutes. As a recurring symptom, they can fluctuate with hormones, stress and anxiety levels, and for many women they become less frequent after the menopause transition and once other symptoms are also managed.
What helps with perimenopause palpitations?
- Get assessed first: a GP can rule out other causes with a simple examination and, if needed, an ECG or blood tests — this is the essential first step, not something to skip.
- Reduce known triggers: caffeine, alcohol and nicotine can all make palpitations more noticeable for some women.
- Manage the anxiety loop: because anxiety and palpitations can feed each other, breathing techniques and stress management can genuinely help once serious causes are ruled out.
- Address hot flushes: if palpitations mainly occur alongside flushes, managing the flushes (including HRT, where appropriate) may reduce both.
Where PAUSE+ fits: once your GP has assessed your palpitations, if they're clustering with hot flushes and anxiety, PAUSE+ COOL and PAUSE+ CALM support those wider symptom groups. We don't make any claim to treat palpitations themselves.
Stacking more than one symptom? Save with a symptom bundle — or join the gang for 10% off your first order.
Frequently asked questions
Can perimenopause cause your heart to race?
Yes, palpitations are a recognised perimenopause symptom linked to fluctuating oestrogen's effect on the nervous system, often alongside hot flushes or anxiety. They should always be assessed by a GP.
When should I worry about heart palpitations?
Seek urgent medical help (call 999 or go to A&E) if palpitations come with chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, or feeling seriously unwell. For any new palpitations without these features, book a GP appointment for assessment.
Do palpitations go away after menopause?
For many women, palpitations become less frequent as hormones settle and other symptoms like hot flushes and anxiety are managed, but this varies and ongoing palpitations should continue to be discussed with your GP.
Related symptoms
Sources: British Heart Foundation and British Menopause Society guidance on menopause and palpitations. For general information only; not a substitute for personal medical advice. If you have chest pain, severe breathlessness or fainting, call 999.