heart palpitations and the menstrual cycle

[LisaTLC]

hello im 27 yrs old and suffer from heart palpitations, i wondered if these can be linked to the menstrul cycle
as i tend to get them mostly around this time and only occasionally inbetween its quite scary as i have to breath deep to get my breath, i have not been to my local gp about this yet as im afraid of what he will say.


This discussion is related to Heart Palpitations.

[2210485]

Good golly this was long.

The answer is yes. Palpitations, PVC in particular, get worse In certain phases of menstration. In particular just before your period.

They are also known to go away during pregnancy.

[Jeneva2020]

I was searching for a site like this. I am having the same issues but realize if I drink water it helps, It is only around my period that I have these palps; and the best thing I came up with is we are losing a lot of fluids and they need to be replace; try drinking Gatorade ;lots of water and take vitamins it will help it has help me some!

[Dio4530]

Hi guys, so my situation is the same as everyone elses. Strong heart palpitations whenever i got up from my chair but it also happened randomly, I also have shortness of breathe. This is also the week before my period.

I started reading a ton of these blogs and started writing down the things that were working for people that were more recurring.  

So based on these findings this is what im doing now:  

Magnesium - 500mg
B12 - 500 mg
Acidophilus - (Since i struggle w/ acidity, someone mentioned this could potentially be a cause, which i might have to agree with I've gotten weird chest pain from acidity, but well see)

I stopped drinking caffein (I cant stop cold turkey, so ill update you incase it starts happening as a result of coffee)

Also drinking a ton of water!

Yesterday i went out for a bike ride and felt good after.


I had 1 or 2 palpitations,  instead of the 35 i was getting a day. I still have shortness of breathe but im going to try and take some allergy medication, since it started happening beginning of May. Ive never been allergic to anything, but given the right conditions im sure my body has been reacting.

Its only been 2 days. Ill keep you updated.

[reya888]

hello my name is ash and this is for all the women suffering from heart palpitations .. for me I truly believe it was the from taking birth control pills ..it screw up my entire system because I wasn't sexually active and still  I would take them for my skin ..according to my gyn they were good for acme prone skin ...   I got off that pill and a year later my body bounced right back to normal ….please ladies stop taking the pills ..anything to do with hormones are dangerous ….I work out everyday and I am still taking 1/4 of metoprolol 25mg once a day ...god luck every one and email me if there is any questions at all …. email is (winter rose 555 1212 @ a o l . c om)

[rainbowbrite9]

I didn't go through all of the responses here, so maybe this was already mentioned, but I after tracking my resting heart rate using my fitbit, I have noticed an obvious increase in resting rate beginning about halfway through my cycle, and then dropping rapidly right before I get my period and falling through to the end of my period before it starts rising again. I get occasional PVCs myself, but too infrequently to notice a pattern with my menstrual cycle. But I think the resting heart rate trend is certainly enough proof that, my cycle at least, does affect my heart in some way, however small.

[reya888]

hello my name is ash and this is for all the women suffering from heart palpitations .. for me I truly believe it was the from taking birth control pills ..it screw up my entire system because I wasn't sexually active and still  I would take them for my skin ..according to my gyn they were good for acme prone skin ...   I got off that pill and a year later my body bounced right back to normal ….please ladies stop taking the pills ..anything to do with hormones are dangerous ….I work out everyday and I am still taking 1/4 of metoprolol 25mg once a day ...god luck every one and email me if there is any questions at all …. email is (winter rose 555 1212 @ a o l . c om)

[I_smile_because_]

I too experience these same symptoms! I am now 40 but have always been very healthy and active with no palpitations ever before. A few years ago after a bout of terrible, terrible flu, I gained 18 pounds in 3 days and was insanely tired and short of breath. On the third day realized I hadn't eaten enough to justify ANOTHER 5 lbs since the day before. So we went to the dr and they said my blood work showed mild congestive heart failure but that I was past the worst of it. EKG and other heart tests looked fine but they wanted to check for blockages with a CT scan. That too was fine so they sent me home with a diuretic. Although my dr said I could try natural, food based diuretics for a day and if that didn't work had to take the diuretic. Thankfully the food and tea worked. Looking back, this all happened a few days before my period started. The dr said it was probably a mild case of cardiomyopathy and I should be grateful it wasn't worse and that it would take a year before I felt like myself again. She was partly right, I felt a lot better after a year and could work out again, but ever since I have palpitations like crazy before my period, and occasionally during the rest of the month. Sometimes more during ovulation. I also had a heart cath early on just to double check everything because I was really feeling bad a lot the first few months. The heart cath results were good. I'm beginning to wonder if somehow all of it was related to hormones since the beginning. But I don't know if hormones can cause actual chf? I went to a naturopath that after some blood work recommended a teaspoon of cod liver oil (I actually take a tablespoon) and a liquid iron supplement Floradix. I was skeptical. But over the last couple years have noticed a definite pattern that when I stay steady especially on the cod liver oil, my palpitations and chest pain are basically gone, maybe with just a few near my period. I would tell anyone with this trouble PLEASE try cod liver oil. It sounds dumb, but it has worked wonders for me! I have to take it every day. It also has been known to help with depression and anxiety. Some other common sense things that help like others have mentioned is drinking LOTS of water, and limiting caffeine, sugar and carbohydrates. Thank you all for your experiences that help me to see I'm not alone!

[Cardie1]

I also experience such pains 2-3 days before my periods, during periods and 3-4 after periods. I cannot get help anywhere as I am 17 years old. I don't  know what to do, can any one please give some advice?. Doctors say I am still young for all of this symptoms, but what I feel is too much. I cannot help it anymore and I don't get help. For more information, I don't have a child, I haven't yet involved in sexual activities, I don't drink or smoke. Please anyone who knows something, can you please email me on ***@****. Even though you think is not something related, i would appreaciate any information. I've been searching, going doctors, but still I don't get any help. Thanks in advance.

[reya888]

hello my name is ash and this is for all the women suffering from heart palpitations .. for me I truly believe it was the from taking birth control pills ..it screw up my entire system because I wasn't sexually active and still  I would take them for my skin ..according to my gyn they were good for acme prone skin ...   I got off that pill and a year later my body bounced right back to normal ….please ladies stop taking the pills ..anything to do with hormones are dangerous ….I work out everyday and I am still taking 1/4 of metoprolol 25mg once a day ...god luck every one and email me if there is any questions at all …. email is (winter rose 555 1212 @ a o l . c om)

[reya888]

email me

[reya888]

start working out everyday " walk on a threadmill for 30 mins ..no fast but do it everyday and give it about 3 weeks and you will start feeling better

[Bnot2bee]

38 yo female here with heart palpitations pretty much all month, save one week between cycles.  I have a murmur and have had noticeable palps for as long as I can remember.  I had an even worse time with them while pregnant with my two children.  Both pregnancies, I had multiple tests and echos and it was determined that all my palps were benign and mostly originated in the atrium (PACs). I still get panicky and nervous when they happen, especially multiple incidents in a short period of time.  I am going back to the cardio on December 28th and hope to get further assurance that everything is benign and life can keep moving forward.  The worst part is feeling like you keep having to follow up to ensure that something is not structurally wrong with your heart, but it's ALWAYS better to err on the side of caution and be "in the know".  Best of luck to all with your issues and always remember you're not alone!

[athalia717]

I have a great dr here in MN. He told me that what tends to happen is a perfect storm that allows the situation to happen. He said often people very anxiety- no palps, our their hormones are a little off- still no palps, or they get indigestion from eating- no palps. But, if you combine all 3- it can create the right environment to be too much of a load- and you get the palp. That's why you don't get them constant. I tend to notice i get burpy after... See if you are having trapped air that's pushing on the vagus nerve- or giving you a vagal response.
Get rid of or help stop more palps by bearing down your chest like your grunting or pushing out all your air- or plug your nose and try to breath out through your nose still- that helps bear down.

Or try ice on your wrists. It's a misfire in your nervous system- so these things help shock your nervous system back to right again.

Exercise for sure!! Doc said that is one of the best things for palps- and it truly is!! Learn to let go. I believe in God- and I believe He knows when I'm gong to die- and that is a precious thing to Him (the bible says so). This is comforting to me. I know I'm not going to die before it's time, and I know God has good plans in all of this... I just have to trust.

[Heatherxo4425]

Hello, i am 20 years old. Ever since I was 15 Ive had a horrible panick disorder. I feel like something is wrong with me and like Im going to die. Its hard to talk about without getting anxiety but I know what its like and would like to help. And yes, skipped beats...palpatations, they can be directly related to your menstrual cycle. I know this because there was a time I was going to my doctor multiple times a week with questions because I was such an anxious wreck. She told me heart palpatations are very common and quite normal. Especially around your menstrual cycle. Just breathe, know your okay. I find taking a cool wet washcloth and wiping my face neck and chest area is very soothing when Im freaking out. Also know that its your bodys way of telling you youre alive. I do still recommend talking to your doctor as there are many things they can do to help you cope with having a panick disorder.

[athalia717]

Biofeedback, counselors, positive friends and family, and a great book called Overcoming Far, Worry, and Anxiety- by a lady whose last name is Fitzpatrick- helped me. The book is awesome if you struggle with anxiety!!!

[hedda7]

i use very hot water with lemon juice. helps so much

[hedda7]

i use very hot water with lemon juice. helps significantly.

[ash02182016]

hello everyone …my name is ash ..I am just updating you guys on the heart palps I used to get …so far thank god it’s seem to went away …I was tested for everything under the sun…all test came back good (thank god)…the only thing I can come up with is you have to stay away from MSG and try not to eat a lot at once …every 7 to 10 days I would get a slight elevated heart rate which would go about 90 or so .. goes away in about an hour or two ,,I believe its caused by what I eat …i am still off sugar and salt ..and i still take 1/2 of the beta blocker in the morning and at night ...take care everyone and best of luck ..thank you everyone for sharing your story ..

[Marejka]

I am 51 and have had palpitations since I was 41. I am going to have a 2 week monitor shortly just be sure PVCs and not Afib or something. I'm healthy, run regularly, so I doubt it.  Anyway, I'm going through menopause (go 3 months without periods), but bam - once a period is about to start, huge bout of PVCs. I HIGHLY recommend taking Magnesium.  It helps a lot and there is a lot of research to support it.  I find the powdered magnesium (sold as a brand "Calming") is the most effective - you can get it on Amazon or at Whole Foods/Sprouts. I take three 100 mg supplements a day, plus two teaspoons of the Calming a few hours before I go to sleep. So I get around 500-750 mg a day (if stools are too loose, I cut back a little).  Just note that it can cause diarrhea. I have found that issue has mostly gone away as I have become accustomed to taking the magnesium.  Research its effects. I also take CoQ10 and calcium. Again, research what works best for PVCs and you start to see the relationship with those supplements.

[reya888]

hello my name is ash and this is for all the women suffering from heart palpitations .. for me I truly believe it was the from taking birth control pills ..it screw up my entire system because I wasn't sexually active and still  I would take them for my skin ..according to my gyn they were good for acme prone skin ...   I got off that pill and a year later my body bounced right back to normal ….please ladies stop taking the pills ..anything to do with hormones are dangerous ….I work out everyday and I am still taking 1/4 of metoprolol 25mg once a day ...god luck every one and email me if there is any questions at all …. email is (winter rose 555 1212 @ a o l . c om)

[ash02182016]

i am 35 years old …I feel very compelled to write this only because it scared the living daylight out of me ..on feb 18 2016 I was sitting at my desk at work and all of a sudden my heart went crazy ….i feel two skip beats and then it went up to about 180 heart beats per minutes. I was so scared , I left my joy and I was taken TO the ER..had an echo , ekg , chest x-ray and MRI done …couldn’t find anything except for mild TR which my doctor reassure me it’s not the reason for my palpitations..he sent me to a GYN specialist who suggested it was probably my hormones ..again more blood work ..shows my estrogen was low. I don’t know what to do ..every time I get the palps I get instantly tired ..out of nowhere ..i can fall right there and sleep for days ..i am trying everything …vitamins .iron pills ..i am going nuts trying to find an answer. Before all this starting to happen one year before I was constantly feeling sleepy and my period stated to coming irregular..went to the gyn same story ..they couldn’t find the problem..around my period I would feel tired , sleepy and literally I can’t do anything …my heart rate would be like 115 walking around and even higher sometimes…ladies I am sharing because I know whoever else is facing this must be in the same boat with me. some days I am o and other days I am scared of something might happen to me….i am on a beta blocker carvedilol 3.125 mg ..1/2 in the morning and ½ at night…I do have acid reflux which I was given omeprazole 20mg once a day..i take it for 2 months first thing in the morning…then I started to see the doctor for constipation which I took linzess for ..i am doing so much better now …I think we need to get stuff moving in our body and cleaning it out so we can make room for improvement ..i don’t know if I am 100% better but I am trying everything so far ….i will keep you posted on my next period and the palps… I am eating small portions ..i am also on a no salt and no sweet diet… My doctor is from LIJ ..please feel free to email me ..***@**** …we can all share info and help each other

[Nursejackies]

You poor girl I feel your pain and suffering. During some of my pregnancies I have had heart palpitations all day every day with no break in between and I was absolutely exhausted and miserable. They are definitely related to hormone levels because after my pregnancies things would settle down and they are more active during my menstrual period now that I am done having children. One of the biggest improvements for me was proper sleep proper hydration and cardiovascular fitness. the more physically fit I am the less I have trouble with palpitations. For some people the heart is a sensitive organ and is sensitive to changes and hormones and reduced activity levels and stress but it doesn't mean we're at risk for death when it happens. Just like anything else in our body, our heart doesn't always perform perfectly but it has enough natural ability to recover and keep your body going after run of palpitations. I am a nurse and an anatomy and physiology teacher so I have researched this quite a bit seeing that I suffer from them too. Good luck and try water, sleep amd exercise. Also when you're in the midst of a run of palps a good hearty cough should help them stop in their tracks. Good luck!

[Chankat]

I am 40 years old. I have had heart problems all my life but I did not know it was truly my heart until 2009. Anytime I talked to a doctor about my symptoms, I was told that it was anxiety. I had one doctor tell me that it was all in my head and that nothing was wrong with me at all. One week later, a cardiologist listened to me and he did an echo and... boom! There it was. I had a hole in my heart that was so large that it did not make the classic wooshing sound a classic heart murmur makes. So, I now have a wire mesh implant in my heart and I had to have cryo-ablation done on a nerve in my heart that kept me in Afib all the time. Recently, I started having issues right around the time I start menstruating. Which has become very irregular. So, my first thought is that something is wrong with my implant or I have another nerve that is going haywire. The cardiologist cant find anything wrong this time but I have had 3 attacks like this so far. I am glad to find this post and see that maybe there is another explanation but it scares me too. What if I shrug it off as hormones and just try to deal with it and it really is my heart?! Does anyone take hormone replacements? I have taken progesterone for over a year for extreme pms symptoms (PMDD). It and prozac has helped so much and I had wondered if maybe I needed my levels checked again since my cycle is becoming so irregular. Thanks for the info ladies and for sharing. Maybe we can help each other. Good luck to all :)

[Halod050614]

I am the same exact age. I will have bad palpitations that hit me out of no where, especially right before my period. I am usually tachycardic with my BPM resting is around 105. I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse 11 years ago when I was pregnant with my middle daughter. I can go months without a single symptom and then out of no where boom my heart is skipping beats several times a minute for days on end. I am starting to suffer from anxiety attacks especially when I'm driving. This is so frustrating!

[beachfrost]

Not sure if this comment will be viewed as most of the comments are from over the years but I wanted to share my experience with heart palpitations.  I can so relate to what seems to be menstrual related heart palps but I also get them throughout the month as well. I do have mitral valve prolapse and also suffer with anxiety and panic attacks. The heart palps fuel the fear with the anxiety.  Certain menstrual cycles aren't as bad as others. I'm 41 and assuming that peri menopause is beginning.  My heart has skipped and flopped so much today it makes me so tired.  My cardiologist over the years has assured me that everything is fine but it's so hard not to panic when my heart is doing acrobatics in my chest. Sometimes it's a fish like flop,others times it's a powerful thud and sometimes just the skipped beats. I've had the palps for 20 years now and still haven't gotten used to them. I just wish I could find out what the correlation is between the palps and my menstrual cycles.  I also have started getting migraines again periodically with my periods and I haven't had a migraine since my 20's.  I feel for all that suffer with this as I know how scary it can be.

[reya888]

hello my name is ash and this is for all the women suffering from heart palpitations .. for me I truly believe it was the from taking birth control pills ..it screw up my entire system because I wasn't sexually active and still  I would take them for my skin ..according to my gyn they were good for acme prone skin ...   I got off that pill and a year later my body bounced right back to normal ….please ladies stop taking the pills ..anything to do with hormones are dangerous ….I work out everyday and I am still taking 1/4 of metoprolol 25mg once a day ...god luck every one and email me if there is any questions at all …. email is (winter rose 555 1212 @ a o l . c om)

[Xiny95]

Hi! I am 44 and suffer from arritmia and palpitations especially during my period. Went to the ER with a 182 pulse really scary moment! I tried to breathe and couldn't feel air in my system, I thought this is it! Well labs were done and showed my Iron level was at 8 and my Ferritin level was at 2. Normal iron should be 12-14 and normal Ferritin should be 30. Doctor don't even know how I was walking. A Cardiologist saw me and  sent me home with Atenolol 25mg once a day. Also to take "Ferrous Sulphate" twice a day and after 2 months taking Ferrous Sulphate my Iron level went up to 12 and I feel no more palpitations! I was told that having anemia or low Iron levels makes your heart works harder and arrhythmia started to happen. I suggest you all to visit your doctor and have lab tests done just to double check your iron level and also doctors can have an idea of what's going on. Hope this post helps! God bless you all! Xiny

[Skippybeats]

Hi ive been having palpitations since my early twenties. I am now 46. This problem has been driving me crazy. No doctor canfigure it out. I dont think they want to tell people the truth. I do believe it is hormonal. I just had a bad palp this morning and decided to look this up. I am glad i found this article. After all the doc visits and ER visits, i do believe it is hormonal. Sometimes i feel like i need an ambulance. I feel these mostly when im sitting or laying down. They wanted to put me on beta blockers years ago. I had the gut feeling not to take them. I am glad i found other people to share this problem. I dont think theres much anyone can do except stay away from caffeine. I had a cup of half-caff coffe this morning. Not my usual. I usually have de-caff. I know my pd is right around the corner too. Good luck to all and thank u all for sharing. Its comforting to know i am not alone. It helps to share with others. Thanks.

[Shirley0530]

I have had palpitations for a year now. Mostly when I lay down. They get so bad that my whole body jerks. I went to my dr and had an ekg. It showed that I have a left bundle branch block but said it has nothing to do with palpitations. He did an echo on my heart and said everything was good. I asked him if my palpitations could be from menopause and he said no. He says its anxiety. I don't believe that one bit. This is an every night thing for a year and it seems no dr wants to help. He told me to come back in a year.

[chronsweet]

I am 40 and began experiencing heart palps.  I have read that women in peri-menopause get them.  Along with the heart palps, I have a very erratic cycle.  I did go to the emergency room and was told that my EKG was normal, vitals were good and a CT-scan revealed I have healthy lungs and a healthy heart.  I actually feel crampy today (and yesterday) and feel like it is 'that time'.  And guess what else showed up, you betcha, the heart palps.  I really think hormones play a big role in this.  I felt better knowing there is nothing wrong for sure.  It certainly looks like I am not alone either, which is a big relief.

[Sharon120120]

Your doctor is so wrong...heart palps can be really bad during and around your period and as we head into menopause.  Ive had heart palps since i was in my 20s..im 51 now and today im having a bad run of skipped beats due to me starting my period today. I find drinking Calm which you can buy at The Vitamin Shoppe helps me tremendously. I drink it in the raspberry lemon flavor. Its really good and it's a magnesium drink so it calms your heart down and helps it beat steadier.

[Bonks44]

Im 29, I started having them 3 months into staying birth control junel 1/20. I did the full cardio workup, ekg, 24hr holter monitor, stress test, echo. Nothing structurally wrong. Then I stopped the pill and it gradually went away. 2 months later, I starting to have them again, but not as bad, I feel them when I lay down. And Im starting my period as well. Im also highly irregular, so it might be due to fluctuating estrogen levels. Dont believe the anxiety or coffee is causing it.

[Louptylou]

http://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=30

[MsTanyaaaa]

I have heard of ketosis helping with this.  I started today.  High fat diet and almost no carbs and you lose weight!  Sign me up.  I have all of the same problems. My heart rate was over 200 the other day.  I also downloaded the heart rate monitor for my iPhone.  I hope the diet works!

[nothisispatrick]

I get them like crazy around my period.

[nothisispatrick]

I get them like crazy around my period.

[Julesinky2]

I'm so happy to have found this group!  I am 39 and started having palpitations for the first time ever last month. It's absolutely terrifying and I also have that horrible feeling like I am going to die. It happens more often after I eat. A trip to the ER with a pulse rate of 160 was diagnosed as anxiety. The problem is, the palpitations came out of nowhere. No anxiety at all. I'm still trying to find the reason why, but I'm wondering if it's hormonal. My therapist gave me some breathing techniques that have been very helpful. Hang in there everyone. Apparently this is pretty common. Prayers to you all.

[Nourymousa]

Sometimes due to changes in our body....we are triggering caffeine sensitivity...try to cut caffeine for a while including coffe, Soda drinks & chocolate...everything that may contain even a minimal of caffeine...and see the result...cut not decreasing

[kellysaid1]

i am 44 and have been getting them for months now...its crazy i get them before..during and after my period..i only have 1 week normal a month....they get so bad that i get anxious and i have very bad mood swings...i also get dizziness...i am so scared to go to the dr though im learnig just to deal with them

[mashie3]

Im 39 years old and after my third child I started noticing heart palpitations and after several anxiety attacks and breakdowns, my cardiologists assured me that it was due to hormonal changes. My mother has them and she stated you just get used to it and she's right. When I feel them I know my period is about to start and it's related to hormones. It's really hard to feel adjust to the onset of PVC when all your life has been normal as far as your heartbeats. I am just about to finish up nursing school and my instructors say the same thing. We are going to be okay gals!

[Wildthng5100]

This thread  has been so helpful. I've been suffering for about 5-6 years. No test has given me any answers. I know birth control is most likely to blame. I got the implant   in my arm and ever since then Ive had heart palpitations and anxiety. Been dx wih pmdd and given Xanax which does help the panic attack that usually occurs as a result of the  palpitations. I seriously felt like I was crazy and alone until I found this thread. You all havegiven me such comfort. I just try to breathe through them and tell myself that they haven't hurt me yet and hopefully everyone is right and they are harmless. Thank you everyone   for confirming that I'm not crazy!!!!

[Hagitha]

I had the same exact thing! My Cardiologist told me to take over the counter supplement called "slow-mag" I take the max dose of that magnesium supp and it REALLY helped!! It has also helped with headaches, and restless leg! It has worked wonders!  I really rec. asking your Doctor. I will warn that It took about 2 weeks for me to start feeling the full effect of how wonderful the mag was, but it has been great! I also stay VERY hydrated. Also, Hummus around that time of month is GREAT! It has natural estrogen in it, and it helps us not have effects from that extreme dip over our cycles(which can be palps). Good luck ladies. You are not alone :)