Prior to menopause

estrogen helped balance sympathetic (excited) 

and parasympathetic (relaxed) tone.

During and after menopause diminished estrogen can

result in sympathetic over-stimulation contributing to 

symptoms such as heart palpitations.

Information about calming menopausal heart palpitations

and hot flashes is presented in the paragraphs below.

Heartbeats . . .

The first sound,

the lub of lub-dub is

the sound of the mitral and

tricuspid valves closing.

The second sound,

the dub is

the sound of

the aortic and

pulmonary valves closing.

A Premature Contraction

is when a single heartbeat

occurs earlier than normal

During the

menopausal transition

there is a

natural decrease in

ovarian estrogen production.

For some women

this reduction in

hormone production

is associated with an

increase in heart rate

and an increased frequency in

palpitations and non-threatening

arrhythmias, such as

premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). 

The

Atrioventricular Node

is a group of

special conduction

fibers at the

   Calming 

                     Irregular Heart Beats and Hot Flashes

                     During The Menopausal Transition 

The short version of how to reduce the symptom of heart palpitations during the menopausal transition involves the addition of milled flaxseed to ones diet and the herb valerian root.

Flaxseed stabilizes estrogen.

It does not reduce or increase estrogen levels. Flaxseed binds to estrogen receptors creating a sense of completion. Estrogen is then less erratic (more balance) this reduces symptoms of heart palpitations and . . . hot flashes.

Milled flaxseed is flaxseed that has been ground to a powder. Milled flaxseed is very, very pure and costs about two dollars for a two month supply. One/two tablespoons each day will help ease through the menopause transition.

In addition to flaxseed, calcium enrich soy milk (and soy nuts) will help diminish menopausal heart palpitations and hot flashes. Caffeine will contribute to sympathetic over-stimulation.

Valerian Root is an inexpensive herbal supplemental that helps suppress sympathetic over-stimulation.

Valepotriates are the primary component of valerian root. Valepotriates calm the central nervous system. For many women valerian root helps suppress the symptom of menopausal heart palpitations. A more potent dietary supplement will have only two ingredients: valerian root & gelatin.

Slow breathing . . . six breaths per minute also calms heart palpitations. More about this a few paragraphs below.

Palpitations do tend to lessen over time . . .

During the menopausal transition many, many women experience heart palpitations. Such episodes are alarming, often occur suddenly, occur in clusters, can be as brief as a moment or last for fifteen minutes or longer. Palpitations do tend to lessen over time as the body adjusts to diminished estrogen (estradiol) production.

Presented in this overview:

are a few suggestions in regard to managing episodes of menopausal heart palpitations. This overview also relates information about palpitations and the role of estrogen in cardiovascular (blood vessel) and cardiac contractile function (heart beat).

While this information may seem unfamiliar or complex, it has been presented to confirm that the symptoms many women experience during the menopausal transition often have a physiological/biological origin.

For Her Heart

Women’s Heart Health

Natural Self Care & Prevention

 www.ForHerHeart.org

The Role of Estrogen

in Cardio-Vascular and Cardiac Contractile (heart beat) Function

    Advances in women's cardiovascular health have provided insight into the significant role of estrogen in cardiovascular function. For example, estrogen effects cholesterol metabolism and disposition, increases plasma levels of high density lipoproteins HDL, inhibits peroxidation (decay) of low density lipoproteins LDL, inhibits the proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the arterial wall, stimulates vasodilation (widening), and suppresses the norepinephrine induced vasoconstrictor (tightening) response of coronary arteries.

    Keep in mind, it is the fluctuations in estrogen that mediate the physiologically effects in microvessels which contribute to hot flashes. During a hot flash tiny blood vessels close to the skin open wide (rapidly) allowing for more blood flow. This extra blood flow is what causes a sense of warmth during a hot flash. The sweat that occurs with the hot flash is the body's natural mechanism to cool down. A hot flash is a vascular event, for medical perspective to lessen hot flashes click here.

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Natural Estrogen Helps Ease Symptoms

For Menopausal and Post-Menopausal Women 

The biological actions of estrogen (estradiol E2) are communicated by estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta. ERa and ERb are distributed in specific tissues such as breast, brain, bone, skin and urinary tissue. For many postmenopausal women diminished estrogen results in diminished bone density, dry and less elastic skin resulting in wrinkles, and  thinner vaginal, bladder and anal (uro-genital)tissue. For post-menopausal women estrogen replacement counteracts these physiological changes.

In addition to blood vessels, estrogen receptors also influence cardiac conduction (heart beat). For example estrogen receptors are present on ventricular myocytes: the heart muscle cells of the ventricles: the bottom chambers of the heart.

In biology, an agonist binds to a receptor of a cell and triggers a response by the cell. An agonist often mimics the action of a naturally ocuring substance. 17 beta estradiol, and the phytoestrogens red clover and genistein (a soy isoflavone) act as estrogen agonists.

17 beta estradiol is a natural estrogen mimic/agonist. 17 beta estradiol is prescription estrogen replacement and is most often made of a natural soy base. This prescription estrogen replacement is available as an oral tablet or a transdermal (skin) patch, cream or gel. 17 beta estradiol  has the same binding affinity for estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta in estrogen sensitive tissues. This is why prescription estrogen replacement alleviates a variety of menopausal symptoms.

  Natural Plant Based Estrogens

Phytoestrogen dietary supplements such as red clover and genistein (a soy isoflavone)  communicate with estrogen receptors. As such, 17beta estradiol, and phytoestrogens red clover and genistein help ease symptoms during the menopausal transition. The type of plant based estrogen selected often depends on the degree and nature of the symptoms and time frame of the transition: perimenopause, menopause or post menopausal.  

The blood vessel lining (the endothelium), smooth muscle cells (tighten or relax arteries), certain neurons in the central (sympathetic nervous system) and peripheral nervous systems are selective to estrogen receptor beta. The phytoestrogen genistein is about 30-fold estrogen receptor B selective. This is why many, many women find relief from vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes with phytoestrogen dietary supplement isoflavone compounds such as: genistein and red clover.

    Estrogen Replacement

There are considerable options for menopausal women regarding hormone replacement. However, it is helpful to keep in mind, hormone replacement (HRT) refers to estrogen and a progestin. Estrogen replacement (ERT) supplements only estrogen and is a therapeutic option for women with symptoms who no longer have a menstrual period.

Conjugated equine estrogen and medroxyprogesterone acetate is synthetic hormone replacement (a man made chemical). Equine estrogens are mixtures of estrogens purified from the urine of pregnant mares and contains sulphate and glucouronide derivatives, and equine-specific estrogens such as equilin not normally found in humans. 

Natural estrogen replacement is derived from soy. Natural estrogen is provided by pharmaceutical companies or from a compounding pharmacy. Both require a prescription.

   The timing for initiation,

and the type and mode (oral or transdermal)

of estrogen replacement

effects cardiac and blood vessel mechanisms. 

You can email concerns/questions about

estrogen replacement and cardio-vascular health.

email/contact info click here