TL;DR
Get wellness gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Cardiologist Roy Jogiya has highlighted three symptoms women should not automatically dismiss as menopause: new chest discomfort, breathlessness during usual activities and persistent or irregular palpitations. Some symptoms can require emergency care; others need medical assessment. The source report is expert guidance, not a new clinical study.
A Fit&Well report has highlighted advice from cardiologist Dr Roy Jogiya: women going through menopause should not assume new chest discomfort, unusual breathlessness or persistent or irregular heartbeats are simply hormonal symptoms. Jogiya says some signs can indicate a heart problem and require prompt assessment, while chest symptoms or palpitations accompanied by severe warning signs may call for emergency services.
Jogiya, identified by Fit&Well as chief medical advisor at Heart Research UK, says falling estrogen levels during menopause can be associated with changes in blood vessels, cholesterol, blood pressure, abdominal fat and insulin resistance. He also cautions that these changes develop gradually and that aging contributes; the report does not present them as effects of menopause alone.
The three symptoms he singles out are new chest pressure or discomfort, including sensations that might be mistaken for indigestion; becoming breathless during familiar daily activities or exercise; and a racing, irregular or persistent heartbeat. Jogiya says a heart attack in women may also involve breathlessness, nausea, sweating, unusual fatigue, or discomfort in the jaw, back or upper abdomen. Symptoms can vary, and the report does not say that any one symptom by itself confirms a heart attack.
Menopause-related palpitations can be common and often harmless, Jogiya says. But he advises medical assessment when they persist or occur alongside breathlessness, chest pain or faintness. Clinicians may investigate with an electrocardiogram or portable heart monitor, according to the report. For new or recurring symptoms, he recommends contacting a doctor; he also names reduced exercise tolerance, recurrent dizziness and unexplained breathlessness as reasons to arrange an assessment.
Recognizing Symptoms Beyond Menopause
The advice matters because symptoms such as palpitations, fatigue and hot flashes can overlap with experiences commonly associated with menopause. Treating every new symptom as hormonal could delay an evaluation, while assuming every palpitation signals heart disease could cause unnecessary alarm. Jogiya’s central point is to seek assessment rather than guess when symptoms are new, persistent, worsening or affecting ordinary activity.
The report also identifies factors that may raise cardiovascular risk, including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and a strong family history of premature heart disease. Jogiya adds a history of premature menopause, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes or pregnancy-related hypertension as risk markers that can be overlooked. These are reasons to discuss individual risk with a health professional, not proof that a person has heart disease.
Jogiya recommends regular activity, including a target of 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week and strength training, alongside a diet featuring vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and olive oil and lower in saturated fat and salt. He also recommends checking blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. The article presents these as preventive health steps, not a substitute for urgent care or individualized medical advice.
Products Worth Considering
Withings BPM Connect Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Blood Pressure Monitor
Therabody Theragun Mini 3rd Generation Massage Gun, Black
Oral-B iO Series 5 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush with Travel Case, White
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Hormonal Changes and Heart Risk
Fit&Well frames menopause as a period when cardiovascular health can merit attention alongside more familiar concerns such as disrupted sleep, anxiety and hot flashes. Jogiya says estrogen has a role in blood-vessel health and cholesterol regulation; as levels fall, LDL cholesterol and blood pressure may rise, and abdominal fat or insulin resistance may increase. He notes that menopause and aging occur together, so the source does not attribute every cardiovascular change to hormones.
The report is an interview-based health article featuring one cardiologist’s guidance. It does not report new research, quantify how much menopause changes an individual woman’s heart risk, or establish that the listed symptoms are caused by menopause or cardiovascular disease. Its practical focus is symptom recognition, medical evaluation and monitoring established risk factors.
For emergency warning signs, the source gives both U.S. and U.K. examples: call 911 in the United States or 999 in the United Kingdom if a heart attack is suspected. Readers elsewhere should use their local emergency number. It advises not waiting for chest symptoms to become severe, particularly when accompanied by sweating, nausea or breathlessness.
“Menopause isn’t just a reproductive milestone; it’s a cardiovascular one, too.”
— Dr Roy Jogiya, chief medical advisor at Heart Research UK, quoted by Fit&Well
What Symptoms Can and Cannot Show
The source does not provide a study or data showing how often these symptoms signal heart disease in menopausal women. It also does not establish that menopause directly causes a particular person’s chest discomfort, breathlessness or palpitations. Symptoms alone cannot diagnose a heart attack or rhythm disorder; examination and, where appropriate, tests are needed.
Individual risk depends on medical history and other factors. The report does not give personalized risk estimates or explain how screening intervals should vary. Jogiya’s advice is to seek emergency help for suspected heart attack symptoms or palpitations with chest pain, shortness of breath, faintness or fainting, and to arrange medical review for new or recurring symptoms. Anyone experiencing severe breathlessness, collapse or signs of stroke should seek emergency attention, according to the report.
When to Seek Medical Care
Call local emergency services for new chest pressure or discomfort that could be a heart attack, 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. Do not wait for symptoms to become severe if a heart attack is suspected.
For symptoms that are not an immediate emergency, arrange a medical assessment for new or recurring palpitations, unexplained breathlessness, recurrent dizziness or a noticeable drop in exercise tolerance. A clinician can decide whether an ECG, portable heart monitor or other evaluation is appropriate. Jogiya also recommends checking blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar and discussing personal risk factors with a health professional. The source reports no scheduled follow-up announcement or new clinical guideline.
Key Questions
Which three symptoms does the cardiologist say not to dismiss?
Dr Roy Jogiya identifies new chest discomfort, unusual breathlessness during familiar activities or exercise, and persistent, racing or irregular heartbeats. They do not automatically indicate heart disease, but new or concerning symptoms warrant attention.
When should I call emergency services?
The report advises calling emergency services if you suspect a heart attack, including new chest pressure or discomfort, particularly with sweating, nausea or breathlessness. It also advises emergency help for palpitations with chest pain, shortness of breath, faintness or fainting. Use your local emergency number.
Are palpitations during menopause always a sign of heart disease?
No. Jogiya says palpitations are common during menopause and often harmless; hormonal fluctuations, poor sleep, anxiety and hot flashes may make the heartbeat more noticeable. Persistent or associated symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness or faintness should be assessed.
What checks does the report recommend?
Jogiya recommends having blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked. For symptoms, a clinician may use an electrocardiogram or a portable heart monitor, depending on the person’s situation.
Does the report prove menopause causes heart disease?
No. It is an interview-based report, not a new clinical study. Jogiya describes possible cardiovascular changes associated with falling estrogen and notes that aging also contributes; the article does not show that menopause alone causes heart disease or that any symptom confirms it.
Source: fitandwell.com
