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Cardiologist Roy Jogiya says menopause-related changes can affect cardiovascular risk and advises women not to dismiss new chest discomfort, breathlessness or persistent palpitations as hormonal symptoms. The report is based on his guidance; it does not establish that any particular symptom is caused by menopause or heart disease.
A cardiologist has urged women going through menopause not to assume that new chest discomfort, unusual breathlessness or persistent heart palpitations are simply hormonal symptoms. In a report by Fit&Well, Dr Roy Jogiya, chief medical advisor at Heart Research UK, said menopause-related changes can coincide with shifts in cardiovascular risk, making assessment of new or recurring symptoms important.
Jogiya identifies three symptoms to take seriously: new chest pressure or discomfort, including sensations that resemble indigestion; becoming breathless during familiar everyday activities or exercise; and a racing or irregular heartbeat that persists or comes with other symptoms. These signs can have different causes, and the report does not say that they automatically indicate a heart condition.
Chest discomfort accompanied by sweating, nausea or breathlessness may require emergency attention, according to Jogiya. He also advises calling emergency services for palpitations with chest pain, shortness of breath, faintness or fainting, as well as for severe breathlessness, collapse or signs of stroke. The source gives 911 for the United States and 999 for the United Kingdom; readers elsewhere should use their local emergency number.
For symptoms that are new or recurring but not an apparent emergency, the report recommends contacting a doctor, particularly for reduced exercise tolerance, recurrent dizziness or unexplained breathlessness. Jogiya says a clinician may investigate palpitations with an electrocardiogram or portable heart monitor. The report also recommends routine checks of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, alongside regular exercise and a heart-healthy eating pattern.
Recognizing Symptoms That Need Care
The advice matters because symptoms associated with a heart problem may not match the popular image of a sudden, crushing chest pain. Jogiya says women may instead experience indigestion-like discomfort, nausea, sweating, unusual fatigue, breathlessness or discomfort in the jaw, back or upper abdomen. That range makes it important not to use menopause as a reason to dismiss a change in health.
At the same time, symptoms such as palpitations can occur during menopause and are often harmless, according to Jogiya. The practical distinction is not something readers can reliably make from a symptom list alone. Urgency depends on the symptoms and their combination: emergency signs call for immediate help, while recurring or unexplained changes merit medical assessment. The report offers general guidance, not a diagnosis.
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Menopause and Cardiovascular Risk
Jogiya told Fit&Well that estrogen helps maintain healthy blood vessels and regulate cholesterol. As estrogen levels fall during menopause, he said, LDL cholesterol may rise, blood pressure may increase, and abdominal fat and insulin resistance may develop. He noted that these changes happen gradually and that aging also contributes, so the report does not attribute every cardiovascular change to menopause alone.
He also named factors that may increase a woman’s cardiovascular risk, including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and a strong family history of premature heart disease. Premature menopause and pregnancy-related conditions such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes or hypertension were also cited as risk markers. Jogiya’s suggested preventive steps are 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, strength training, a diet featuring vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and olive oil, and checks of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.
“Menopause isn’t just a reproductive milestone; it’s a cardiovascular one, too.”
— Dr Roy Jogiya, chief medical advisor at Heart Research UK, speaking to Fit&Well
Symptoms Do Not Confirm a Diagnosis
The report does not provide clinical data establishing how often the three symptoms signal heart disease during menopause, nor does it quantify how menopause changes an individual woman’s risk. It is advice from one cardiologist, not a new clinical guideline or research study. Palpitations, breathlessness and chest discomfort can have causes other than heart disease, and the source does not determine the cause in any individual case.
It is also unclear from the supplied report when it was published. It gives no new study results, policy change or scheduled follow-up. Readers should seek care based on their symptoms and circumstances rather than treating the article as a substitute for medical advice.
When to Contact a Clinician
Anyone who thinks they may be having a heart attack should call emergency services immediately, even if unsure, rather than waiting for symptoms to become severe. The same applies to palpitations accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath or faintness, and to severe breathlessness, collapse or signs of stroke. Use the emergency number for your location.
For new or recurring palpitations, unexplained breathlessness, dizziness or a noticeable drop in exercise tolerance, arrange a medical assessment. A clinician can review symptoms and risk factors and decide whether tests such as an electrocardiogram or portable heart monitor are appropriate. The source report does not announce a further development; its practical next step is assessment and routine cardiovascular checks.
Key Questions
Which three symptoms does the cardiologist say women should not ignore?
Dr Roy Jogiya names new chest discomfort, breathlessness during familiar activities or exercise, and persistent or irregular palpitations—particularly when accompanied by other symptoms.
When should someone call emergency services?
Call if you think you may be having a heart attack, including new chest pressure with sweating, nausea or breathlessness. The report also advises emergency help for palpitations with chest pain, shortness of breath or faintness, and for severe breathlessness, collapse or signs of stroke.
Are menopause palpitations always a sign of heart disease?
No. Jogiya says palpitations are common during menopause and often harmless, but persistent racing or irregular beats—or palpitations with breathlessness, chest pain or faintness—warrant assessment.
What checks does the report recommend?
Jogiya recommends having blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked. A clinician may use an electrocardiogram or portable heart monitor to investigate palpitations.
What habits does the cardiologist suggest?
His suggestions include 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, strength training, eating vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and olive oil, and limiting saturated fat and salt. Individual exercise or diet changes can be discussed with a health professional, especially when pre-existing conditions are involved.
Source: fitandwell.com
