The short explanation
Palpitations, the feeling of a pounding, fluttering or racing heart, are common around menopause and often come together with hot flushes. Changing hormone levels affect the nerves that control heart rate and blood vessels, so a flush can bring a brief rush of heartbeats. Because palpitations can also come from heart rhythm problems, an overactive thyroid, anaemia, too much caffeine, anxiety or some medicines, it is sensible to have them checked once, especially if they are new. A doctor may listen to your heart, check your pulse and blood pressure, and arrange an ECG and blood tests.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Palpitations that only happen with flushes, settle within minutes and come with no other symptoms are less worrying than those that happen at random, last a long time or come with breathlessness or dizziness.
- Risk of heart disease rises after menopause, and women's heart symptoms can be less typical, so do not ignore new symptoms on exertion.
- Keeping a note of when palpitations happen, how long they last and what you were doing helps the doctor a lot.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot tell whether your palpitations are harmless or a sign of a heart rhythm problem. That needs an examination and tests such as an ECG.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Could my palpitations be linked to hot flushes?
- Should I have an ECG, thyroid test and blood count?
- What symptoms would mean I need urgent care?
- Could any of my medicines or my tea and coffee intake play a part?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if palpitations come with chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, or a very fast heartbeat that does not settle.
Get help the same day
- Get care the same day if palpitations come with dizziness or last much longer than usual.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a few days to have new palpitations checked.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Menopause — symptoms NHS
- Menopause NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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