TL;DR
Cardiologist Roy Jogiya identifies new chest discomfort, breathlessness during usual activities and persistent or irregular palpitations as symptoms that warrant attention during menopause. The symptoms can have different causes, and the article does not establish that they are caused by menopause; suspected heart attacks and severe symptoms require emergency care.
Cardiologist Roy Jogiya has urged women going through menopause not to dismiss new chest discomfort, unexplained breathlessness or persistent irregular heartbeats as hormonal symptoms. In an interview with Fit&Well, the Heart Research UK chief medical advisor said these signs may need medical assessment, while stressing that symptoms alone do not establish a heart problem.
Jogiya told Fit&Well that falling estrogen levels during menopause can be associated with changes in cholesterol, blood pressure, abdominal fat and insulin resistance. He said aging also contributes, and that these changes can happen gradually. The report provides no study data or estimates of how often the changes occur, so it presents the explanation as the cardiologist’s guidance rather than a quantified finding.
The three symptoms he highlighted are new chest pressure or discomfort, particularly when it resembles indigestion; becoming breathless during a familiar activity, such as climbing stairs or exercising; and a racing or irregular heartbeat that persists. Jogiya said palpitations can also occur alongside hormonal fluctuations, disrupted sleep, anxiety and hot flashes, and are often harmless. Their cause cannot be determined from the sensation alone.
Jogiya advised calling emergency services if a person thinks they may be having a heart attack, even if uncertain. He listed chest discomfort with sweating, nausea or breathlessness as warning signs, and said palpitations combined with chest pain, shortness of breath or faintness require emergency attention. He also identified severe breathlessness, collapse and signs of stroke as emergencies. For new or recurring palpitations, reduced exercise tolerance, recurrent dizziness or unexplained breathlessness, he recommended arranging a medical assessment.
Recognizing Symptoms Without Guessing
The advice addresses a practical risk: symptoms that merit attention may be mistaken for menopause or indigestion, while menopause-related palpitations may also be harmless. Jogiya’s central point is not that every such symptom signals heart disease, but that women should not have to decide on their own whether a symptom is hormonal or cardiac.
That distinction matters because new or severe symptoms can require urgent care, and a clinician can assess the situation rather than relying on assumptions. The report also describes menopause as a time when cardiovascular risk factors may change, making routine checks of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar relevant to prevention. It does not claim that menopause itself causes a heart attack or that the listed symptoms confirm one.
Menopause and Cardiovascular Risk
In the Fit&Well report, Jogiya links declining estrogen during menopause with possible changes in blood vessels and cardiovascular risk markers. He said LDL cholesterol can rise and blood pressure may increase, while abdominal fat and insulin resistance can develop. Aging is another factor, according to the cardiologist; the article does not separate its effects from those associated with menopause.
Jogiya said people with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, a smoking history, obesity or a strong family history of premature heart disease may be at greater risk. He also named premature menopause, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and pregnancy-related hypertension as histories worth raising with a clinician. These are risk markers he identified in the interview, not a personal risk assessment for every reader.
For general prevention, he recommended aiming for 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week, adding strength training, eating vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and olive oil, and reducing saturated fat and salt. He also advised having blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked. These suggestions are broad guidance in the report, not individualized medical advice.
“Menopause isn’t just a reproductive milestone; it’s a cardiovascular one, too.”
— Dr Roy Jogiya, chief medical advisor at Heart Research UK
What Symptoms Cannot Establish
The report does not say how often these symptoms reflect a heart condition, or provide research data showing that menopause caused a specific change in an individual’s heart health. Chest discomfort, breathlessness and palpitations have multiple possible causes; the article offers warning signs and advice attributed to one cardiologist, not a diagnosis.
It is also unclear from the supplied report whether Jogiya’s recommendations reflect a formal Heart Research UK guideline or an individual expert interview. The report gives no publication date, detailed study references or information about how readers’ age, medical history and current symptoms would change the advice. People with concerning symptoms should seek appropriate medical care rather than use an article to rule a heart problem in or out.
When to Seek Medical Assessment
Anyone who suspects a heart attack should call their local emergency number immediately, even if unsure; the supplied report gives 911 for the United States and 999 for the United Kingdom. Emergency help is also advised for palpitations with chest pain, breathlessness or faintness, and for severe breathlessness, collapse or signs of stroke.
For symptoms that are new or recurring but not an immediate emergency, Jogiya advises arranging an assessment, particularly for unexplained breathlessness, dizziness, reduced ability to exercise or palpitations. A clinician may use an electrocardiogram or portable heart monitor to investigate a possible rhythm problem, according to the report. The next step for prevention is to discuss blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and personal risk factors with a qualified health professional.
Key Questions
Which three symptoms did the cardiologist identify?
Jogiya highlighted new chest discomfort, unexplained breathlessness during familiar activities and persistent or irregular palpitations. These symptoms can have different causes and do not, by themselves, confirm a heart condition.
When should someone call emergency services?
The report advises calling emergency services if you think you may be having a heart attack, including with new chest pressure or discomfort, especially alongside sweating, nausea or breathlessness. It also advises emergency help for palpitations with chest pain, shortness of breath or faintness, and for severe breathlessness, collapse or signs of stroke.
Are palpitations during menopause always a sign of heart disease?
No. Jogiya said palpitations are common during menopause and are often harmless; hormonal fluctuations, poor sleep, anxiety and hot flashes can make the heartbeat more noticeable. Persistent or irregular palpitations, especially with other symptoms, warrant medical assessment.
What prevention steps did Jogiya recommend?
He recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, strength training, a diet including vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and olive oil, and reducing saturated fat and salt. He also suggested checking blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. A qualified health professional can advise how these steps apply to an individual’s health.
Source: fitandwell.com
