How to Avoid Heart Palpitations That Accompany Menopause

During menopause, estrogen and progesterone can fluctuate wildly as your body ends its childbearing years. This hormonal upheaval causes symptoms in most women. Some symptoms, such as hot flashes, are well known. Others, such as palpitations -- or the feeling that your heart is racing or skipping beats -- are less well known and can therefore be scary. Although nothing short of hormone replacement therapy will balance out your hormones during menopause -- and by the way, hormone replacement therapy itself can cause palpitations -- you can make other lifestyle changes to decrease your chances of experiencing this unpleasant symptom.

Instructions

• 1

  Eliminate caffeine from your diet. It won't affect your hormones, but caffeine can predispose your heart to palpitations. By cutting out caffeine, you are decreasing the chances that it will be the substance that -- along with your hormones -- "puts you over the edge" into palpitations.

• 2

  Avoid other substances, especially stimulants, that make palpitations more likely. The Epigee Women's Health website suggests you avoid these substances during menopause: decongestants, nicotine, diet pills and -- even though it's a depressant and not a stimulant -- alcohol.

• 3

  Reduce the stress and anxiety in your life, or find effective ways of managing it. Again, this won't affect your hormones directly, but anxiety makes palpitations more likely. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests breathing exercises, tai chi or yoga.

• 4

  Take note of your triggers and avoid them. For example, if you notice that vigorous exercise results in palpitations, exercise a little less strenuously for a little longer.