 
|
 An ECG provides electrical tracing of your heart Women between the ages of 35-55 often experience irregular or skipped beats that may accompany hot flashes. These annoying and sometimes uncomfortable skipped beats are known as palpitations. Common descriptions include fluttering and pounding in your chest or an irregular pulse. They occur when either the top part of the heart, the atria, or the bottom part of the heart, the ventricle, contract prematurely. Hence, the names premature atrial (PACs) and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Skipped beats on or around menopause can result from fluctuating hormones. The sometimes dramatic change in hormone levels - namely estrogen and progesterone - can cause a common constellation of symptoms such as facial flushing, sweating and a rapid pulse (palpitations). Palpitations are also commonly experienced when just initiating hormone replacement therapy (HRT). What causes palpitations? If your palpitations are coinciding with menopausal or peri-menopausal symptoms then your prognosis is excellent. Although your symptoms are annoying, it's a good bet they are of the benign variety and likely to completely resolve within a few months. In addition to fluctuating hormones causing your heart to skip a beat, there are a number of other causes for palpitations that include:
A Ticklish Heart - No Laughing Matter Sometimes palpitations are caused by structural problems with the heart such as a leaky or blocked heart valve, weakened heart muscle or narrowed coronary arteries for example. Because palpitations can be triggered by both benign and more serious causes, if you have palpitations you should consult your doctor or health care professional for advice. Questions your doctor will ask To help narrow the list of causes and determine what tests to order to help your make a diagnosis for palpitations your doctor will ask:
Diagnosis - Tests to determine cause of your palpitations
If you also have risk factors for heart disease such as diabetes, hypertension, smoking, family history of premature CAD, or high cholesterol, your doctor may refer you to a cardiologist for a stress test to rule out blocked coronary arteries as a possible cause. Treatment Some simple ways to decrease skipped beats include avoiding:
Cut back on caffeine intake. Make sure you eat small meals during the day to avoid hypoglycemia and make sure to hydrate adequately when working out. Stress and anxiety can cause increased levels of adrenaline, a common cause of palpitations. Meditation in the morning and evenings can help to prevent episodes of heart palpitations caused by this mechanism. Remember that heart palpitations during menopause are common, usually benign and resolve on their own within a few months. If your doctor diagnoses an arrhythmia, there are a number of effective medications and in some circumstances procedures available as therapeutic options. If your heart rate seems extremely high, or is accompanied by dizziness, fainting, or chest, neck or back discomfort, go to the hospital as soon as possible for professional advice. Dr. John Kennedy is an invasive cardiologist who practices in Southern CaliforniaMarina Del Rey Hospital in Marina Del Rey, Calif. He is and works primarily as the Director of Preventative Cardiology and Wellness at the co-author of the book "Breathe: Heal Your Heart in Just 15 Minutes a Day," which will be released by John Wiley & Sons in February 2009. Learn more at www.johnmkennedymd.com. Send your questions to John@smartnow.com. |
