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Cardiologist Dr. Roy Jogiya says menopause-related cardiovascular changes can make it harder to distinguish hormonal symptoms from heart problems. He identifies new chest discomfort, unexplained breathlessness and persistent or irregular palpitations as symptoms that should be assessed, with emergency help needed for possible heart attack symptoms.
A Fit&Well report advises women going through menopause not to dismiss new chest discomfort, unexplained breathlessness or persistent palpitations, citing cardiologist Dr. Roy Jogiya. The symptoms can have causes other than heart disease, but some may signal an urgent problem; Jogiya says women should seek emergency care if they think they could be having a heart attack.
Jogiya, identified by Fit&Well as chief medical advisor at Heart Research UK, says falling estrogen levels during menopause can contribute to changes in blood vessels, cholesterol, blood pressure and body fat distribution. He says these changes develop gradually and occur alongside the effects of aging. The report does not present menopause as proof that a symptom is heart-related; its central advice is to have concerning or changing symptoms assessed rather than assume they are hormonal.
The first warning sign is new chest pressure or discomfort, which may feel like indigestion rather than the dramatic chest pain many people expect. Jogiya says women experiencing a heart attack may also have breathlessness, nausea, sweating, unusual fatigue, or discomfort in the jaw, back or upper abdomen. The report says to call emergency services if a heart attack is possible, even when uncertain, and not to wait for symptoms to become severe.
The other symptoms are breathlessness during familiar activities and a racing or irregular heartbeat that persists. Jogiya says a sudden change in exercise tolerance, such as becoming short of breath on stairs that were previously manageable, deserves investigation. Palpitations can be common during menopause and may be linked to hormonal fluctuations, poor sleep, anxiety or hot flashes; however, he advises assessment when they persist or occur with chest pain, breathlessness, faintness or fainting. A clinician may use an electrocardiogram or portable heart monitor to investigate a rhythm problem.
Recognizing Symptoms That Need Care
Menopause can bring symptoms that overlap with signs of cardiovascular illness, making it easy to attribute a change in how the body feels to hormones alone. Jogiya’s advice focuses on new, persistent or worsening symptoms, rather than treating every hot flash or palpitation as a heart problem. That distinction matters because chest discomfort and associated symptoms can require emergency attention, while changes such as recurring dizziness or reduced exercise tolerance merit medical review.
The report also points to risk factors that may shape a clinician’s assessment: high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and a strong family history of premature heart disease. Jogiya also names premature menopause and pregnancy-related conditions, including pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and pregnancy-related hypertension, as markers that may be overlooked. These factors do not establish a diagnosis, but sharing them with a healthcare professional can inform a person’s cardiovascular risk assessment.
For readers, the practical takeaway is twofold: know when symptoms call for urgent help, and keep up with routine checks. Jogiya recommends regular measurement of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, alongside activity and dietary habits that support heart health. These measures are preventive guidance, not a substitute for medical care when symptoms arise.
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Menopause and Cardiovascular Changes
The source report describes menopause as a period when declining estrogen may coincide with changes in cardiovascular risk markers. Jogiya says LDL cholesterol can rise, blood pressure may increase, and abdominal fat and insulin resistance can develop. He also stresses that aging contributes, so the report does not attribute every change solely to menopause.
Jogiya recommends aiming for 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week, adding strength training, and eating a pattern that includes vegetables, whole grains, nuts and olive oil while limiting saturated fat and salt. He frames menopause as an opportunity for earlier prevention, not as something women should fear. These are general recommendations in the source; individual needs can vary and should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
“Menopause isn’t just a reproductive milestone; it’s a cardiovascular one, too.”
— Dr. Roy Jogiya, cardiologist and chief medical advisor at Heart Research UK, as quoted by Fit&Well
When Symptoms Have Other Causes
The report is based on guidance from one cardiologist and does not provide new clinical research, prevalence data or a formal guideline. It does not establish that menopause causes any individual’s chest discomfort, breathlessness or palpitations. Symptoms may have several causes, and a clinician must assess a person’s history and presentation to determine what testing or care is appropriate.
The source does not specify how often these symptoms occur, quantify how much menopause changes an individual woman’s risk, or give a publication date. It also does not offer a diagnostic checklist that can rule out heart disease at home. Anyone with possible heart attack symptoms should follow local emergency guidance rather than rely on an article to determine the cause.
When to Seek Medical Assessment
Call local emergency services for possible heart attack symptoms, including new chest pressure especially with sweating, nausea or breathlessness. The report also advises emergency help for palpitations accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, faintness or fainting, as well as severe breathlessness, collapse or signs of stroke. Its examples are 911 in the United States and 999 in the United Kingdom; readers elsewhere should use their local emergency number.
Arrange medical assessment for new or recurring palpitations, unexplained breathlessness, recurrent dizziness or reduced ability to exercise. Seek urgent medical advice if symptoms worsen, or if palpitations occurred with chest pain, breathlessness or faintness even if they have stopped. A clinician can decide whether tests such as an electrocardiogram or portable heart monitor are appropriate. Jogiya also recommends checking blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar; the source does not provide a specific schedule for those checks.
Key Questions
What three symptoms does the report highlight?
It highlights new chest discomfort, breathlessness during activities that were previously manageable, and persistent or irregular palpitations. These symptoms can have different causes, so they do not by themselves confirm heart disease.
When should I call emergency services?
Call emergency services if you think you may be having a heart attack, particularly with new chest pressure or discomfort alongside sweating, nausea or breathlessness. The report also advises emergency help for palpitations with chest pain, shortness of breath, faintness or fainting, or for severe breathlessness, collapse or signs of stroke.
Are palpitations during menopause always a heart problem?
No. Jogiya says palpitations can be common during menopause and may be associated with hormonal fluctuations, disrupted sleep, anxiety or hot flashes. Persistent or irregular palpitations, especially with chest pain, breathlessness or faintness, should be assessed.
What routine steps does the cardiologist recommend?
Jogiya recommends aiming for 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, adding strength training, eating a diet with vegetables, whole grains, nuts and olive oil while limiting saturated fat and salt, and checking blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Individual plans should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Source: fitandwell.com
