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Cardiologist Roy Jogiya warns that new chest discomfort, breathlessness during familiar activities and persistent or irregular palpitations should not automatically be attributed to menopause. He recommends emergency help for possible heart-attack symptoms or palpitations with chest pain, breathlessness or faintness, and medical assessment for new or recurring symptoms.
A Fit&Well report has highlighted cardiologist Roy Jogiya’s warning that women should not assume new chest discomfort, unusual breathlessness or persistent heart palpitations are simply menopause symptoms. Jogiya, chief medical advisor at Heart Research UK, says some symptoms need prompt assessment because they can also signal a heart problem, including a heart attack.
Jogiya identifies three symptoms to take seriously: new chest pressure or discomfort, becoming breathless during everyday tasks or familiar exercise, and a racing or irregular heartbeat that persists. The report says some women having a heart attack may experience symptoms such as nausea, sweating, unusual fatigue, breathlessness, or discomfort in the jaw, back or upper abdomen. Chest discomfort can feel like indigestion, Jogiya says, rather than the severe pain many people expect.
For palpitations, the distinction is not simply whether a woman notices her heartbeat. Jogiya says hormonal changes, poor sleep, anxiety and hot flashes can make heartbeats more noticeable, and palpitations are often harmless. But persistent or irregular beats, particularly when accompanied by chest pain, breathlessness or faintness, warrant assessment. A clinician may use an electrocardiogram or a portable heart monitor to investigate a possible rhythm problem, according to the report.
The guidance differentiates emergency warning signs from symptoms to raise with a doctor. Jogiya advises calling local emergency services if a heart attack is suspected, even when uncertain, and seeking emergency help for palpitations with chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting. New or recurring palpitations, reduced ability to exercise, repeated dizziness or unexplained breathlessness should be discussed with a doctor. The report does not offer an individual diagnosis; it relays general advice from the cardiologist.
Recognizing Symptoms Beyond Hot Flashes
The advice addresses a risk of treating every new symptom in midlife as hormonal. Chest discomfort and breathlessness can have multiple causes, and the report does not establish that any particular symptom is caused by heart disease. But Jogiya’s point is that assuming a symptom is menopause-related may delay assessment of a potentially serious condition.
The report also emphasizes that cardiovascular risk can change over time. Jogiya says falling estrogen levels during menopause may coincide with changes in LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, abdominal fat and insulin resistance, while aging also contributes. These are general observations, not proof that menopause alone causes an individual woman’s heart symptoms. The practical takeaway is to seek appropriate care rather than trying to distinguish hormonal from cardiac causes without help.
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Menopause and Cardiovascular Risk
Fit&Well reports that Jogiya describes menopause as a cardiovascular milestone as well as a reproductive one. He links lower estrogen levels with changes that may affect blood vessels and cholesterol, while noting that the process happens gradually and that aging is also a factor. The report supplies no study data or specific risk estimates, so these statements should be understood as the cardiologist’s explanation rather than a quantified finding in this article.
Jogiya says people with hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, a smoking history, obesity or a strong family history of early heart disease may be at greater risk. He also names premature menopause and pregnancy complications—including pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and pregnancy-related high blood pressure—as risk markers worth discussing with a clinician. His prevention suggestions include 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly, strength training, a diet rich in vegetables and whole grains and lower in saturated fat and salt, 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, as quoted by Fit&Well
Symptoms Need Individual Assessment
The report does not provide prevalence figures, research findings or a publication date, and it does not establish how often these symptoms in menopausal women are caused by heart disease rather than other conditions. Symptoms alone cannot identify their cause; the cardiologist’s comments are general guidance, not a diagnosis. The appropriate evaluation will depend on a person’s symptoms and medical history.
It is also unclear from the report what prompted its publication or whether the recommendations reflect a new clinical guideline. The source presents Jogiya’s advice and prevention suggestions but does not cite a specific guideline or study behind them. Readers with symptoms should follow local emergency guidance and consult a qualified health professional for individual medical decisions.
When to Seek Medical Care
Call emergency services if you think you may be having a heart attack, or if palpitations occur with chest pain, shortness of breath, faintness or fainting. Jogiya also identifies severe breathlessness, collapse and signs of stroke as emergencies. Do not wait for symptoms to become severe when a heart attack is suspected.
For symptoms that are new or recurring but not an immediate emergency, arrange a medical assessment, especially for unexplained breathlessness, repeated dizziness or a noticeable drop in exercise tolerance. A clinician can decide whether tests such as an electrocardiogram or portable heart monitor are appropriate. The report gives no further scheduled development; its advice is to seek care based on symptoms and discuss cardiovascular risk checks with a doctor.
Key Questions
Which symptoms during menopause does the cardiologist say should not be ignored?
Jogiya highlights new chest discomfort, breathlessness during usual activities or exercise, and persistent or irregular palpitations. These symptoms can have different causes and do not by themselves confirm heart disease.
When should someone call emergency services?
The report advises calling local emergency services if a heart attack is suspected, even if uncertain. Emergency help is also advised for palpitations accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, faintness or fainting, and for severe breathlessness, collapse or signs of stroke.
Can menopause cause palpitations?
Jogiya says hormonal fluctuations, disrupted sleep, anxiety and hot flashes can make the heartbeat feel more noticeable, and that palpitations are often harmless. Persistent or irregular palpitations, or palpitations with other concerning symptoms, should be assessed by a clinician.
What checks does the report recommend discussing with a doctor?
Jogiya recommends checking blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar so potential problems can be identified and treated early. He also suggests seeking assessment for new or recurring palpitations, unexplained breathlessness, repeated dizziness or reduced exercise tolerance.
Source: fitandwell.com
