Before Menopause
Estrogen Helped Relax Arteries

For post menopausal women diminished estrogen often causes arteries to constrict (tighten) this contributes to the increase in high blood pressure for women over age 50.

The transport of calcium ions across the cell membrane causes vasoconstriction (blood vessel tightening). Estrogen generates a calcium blocking effect on vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiac fibers.

Prior to menopause, estrogen  blocked calcium entry into the cells, contributing to vascular smooth muscle relaxation (vasodilation), and decreased myocardial force generation, decreased heart rate, and decreased conduction velocity within the heart, particularly at the atrioventricular node. 

Getting Serious 
About Improving HDL Cholesterol

HDL cholesterol goal is 60 mg/dL

For a medical perspective

regarding increasing HDL cholesterol levels
click here

Menopause

and post menopause
diminished estrogen production
causes a significant decrease

in HDL cholesterol

(good cholesterol).

Low HDL cholesterol

is a primary
risk factor for women regarding
cardio-vascular disease.  

   A Bit More About Palpitations   
          
    Palpitations are heartbeat sensations that feel like the heart is pounding or racing. Palpitations may be an increased awareness of your own heartbeat, or may be a feeling of skipped or stopped beats. The heart's rhythm may be normal or abnormal. Palpitations can be felt in the chest, back, throat, or neck.

   Some individuals have a sensation of heart pounding and actually have a normal pulse at the time that they have this feeling. This situation can be difficult to assess, since the individual is certain that something must be wrong, but the objective data shows normal function. This situation has been dubbed enhanced cardiac awareness.

   Once it has been established that there is no heart rhythm or blood pressure disturbance to account for the sensation, the episodes tend to improve and eventually lessen. Individuals with disabling symptoms are sometimes treated with beta-blockers, presuming perhaps that inappropriate catecholamine tone may be responsible. Catecholamines (norepinephrine) stimulate a sympathetic response.

   Abnormal heart rhythms and extra heartbeats can cause some episodes of palpitations. These include premature atrial and ventricular beats, and atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Premature atrial and ventricular beats are usually followed by a pause, after which the heartbeat is more forceful. It is this latter beat that is responsible for the symptoms of palpitations. Due to the pause, there is a greater stroke volume and higher level of catecholamines resulting in the perception of a thump.

   In addition, many premature ventricular beats are dissociated with the activity of the atrium of the heart, leading to valvular regurgitation, and felt as a pulsation in the neck or an urge to cough. The occurrence of atrial or ventricular beats may increase during the premenstrual period, pregnancy, menopause or advancing age.

This information about palpitations originated from: The Women's Heart Foundation  

For Her Heart.Org

The following is an overview
of how the heart beat and rhythm is coordinated 

The Heart's Electrical System

   The heart’s rhythm is coordinated by its own electrical system. With each heartbeat, the electrical impulse begins at the sinus (or sinoatrial, SA) node, also called the heart’s natural pacemaker. The SA node is a cluster of specialized cells, located in the right atrium. The SA node produces the electrical impulses that set the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. The impulse spreads through the walls of the right and left atria, causing them to contract, forcing blood into the ventricles.

   The impulse then reaches the atrioventricular (AV) node, which acts as an electrical bridge allowing impulses to travel from the atria to the ventricles. There is a short delay before the impulse travels on to the ventricles.
 
    From the AV node, the impulse travels through a pathway of fibers called the HIS-Purkinje network. This network sends the impulse into the ventricles and causes them to contract.

The contraction forces blood out of the heart to the lungs and body.

The sinoatrial node then fires another impulse and the cycle begins again. 

Of Additional Note

To Help Regulate Heart Beat  . . . this is really helpful

The normal electrical activity in the heart is controlled by the movement of ions through specialized channels in the membranes of cardiac cells. There are six principal ion currents that contribute to the nodal and pacemaking cell action potential and ten that underlie the myocardial action potential. Changes in channel functioning, effect action potential repolarization and can lead to arrhythmias.

Epidemiological studies suggest a cellular mechanism through which Omega 3 fish oils (DHA/EPA) effect ion channels to reduce the risk of arrhythmia. In short, fish oils appear to help regulate ion channel functioning, and as such keep the heart beating rhythmically.

For more information about cardiovascular health and fish oils visit:

http://www.into-the-heart.com/the_benefits_of_fish_oils_on_cardiovascular_health/index.html

CardioE2 . . . For Her Heart, Inc is a nonprofit organization # 900000216 registered and based in Florida, USA. "Ownership and Rights. CardioE2 . . . for her heart Inc., the parent of Estrogen Matters shall own all and exclusive right, title, and interest in the work throughout the world, including copyrights, domain names, trademarks, and all other intellectual property rights in the work. The work shall be deemed to be a work-for-hire under the Copyright Act of 1976, Title 17 U.S.Code, and CardioE2 Ann Williams., shall be deemed to be the author.”

Information is provided for educational purposes to help individuals form an understanding of biological processes as they effect health. This information is not intended for medical diagnosis or treatment.