Palpitations, PSVTs and Menstrual Cycles

Posted By  CCF Cardio MD-SGM on October 18, 1997 at 12:00:20:

In Reply to: Palpitations, PSVTs and Menstrual Cycles posted by Linda on October 17, 1997 at 14:33:47:

: Do you know of any information available or any research being done showing a correalation between irregular heartbeats (palpitations and PSVT) and a woman's menstrual cycle?  I am bothered by palpitations and PSVTs, but only a few days before, during and immediately after my period. I am a 44-year old woman, and these symptoms just started about 4 years ago.  I have been diagnosed as having a "luteal phase defect" which is a shortage of progesterone in the second half of my cycle.  I am wondering if this deficiency of that hormone is what is contributing to my heart arrhythmia.  I would greatly appreciate any information you would have.
  I have been to a cardiologist who tells me that everything checks out normal.  Should I see an endocrinologist next?  Thanks you very much.

[CCF Cardio MD-SGM]

Dear Linda,
In regards to your question on palpitations, I would refer you to a response I posted on 10/17, to this forum, entitled "Heart Palpitations".  This will provide some general medical information regarding the factors that act as stimuli for premature beats.   Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia, or PSVT, is an irregular heart beat, or arrhythmia, that originiates in the upper heart chambers-- the atria.  It causes a rapid heart beat that is often uncomfortable to the patient.  I have searched the recent medical literature,  but find no specific reference to imbalances in ovarian hormones promoting atrial arrhythmias.  I would not be surprised if there is, in fact, an association, but can't be more helpul at this time.  
PSVT has numerous causes, however, that are not linked to hormonal cycles.  PSVT can arise secondary to several abnormal conditions within the conducting tissue of the atria, namely Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry, and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, among others.   There are medical and catheter-based treatments for both these conditions, especially if they produce significant symptoms in patients.  I recommend that you ask your cardiologist about performing a holter monitor of you heart rhythm around the time of your menstrual period, or alternatively, obtaining an event recorder that you can trigger when you experience these symtpoms.  This way, one hopes to definitively diagnose the arrhythmia you are experiencing, thus moving one step closer to the appropriate therapy.
Information provided in the Heart Forum is intended for general medical informational purposes
only. Actual diagnosis and treatment of disease can only be made by your physician.