TL;DR
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A Fit&Well report quotes cardiologist Dr. Roy Jogiya identifying new chest discomfort, unusual breathlessness and persistent or irregular heartbeats as symptoms women should not automatically dismiss during menopause. The report also outlines emergency warning signs and recommends routine checks of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar; it does not establish that these symptoms are caused by menopause or heart disease in any individual.
New chest discomfort, unusual breathlessness and persistent or irregular heartbeats are three symptoms women should not automatically attribute to menopause, cardiologist Dr. Roy Jogiya told Fit&Well. His advice matters because menopause-related changes and aging can coincide with cardiovascular risk changes, while symptoms alone cannot establish whether a problem is hormonal or heart-related.
Jogiya, identified by Fit&Well as chief medical advisor at Heart Research UK, said falling estrogen levels can be associated with changes in blood vessels and cholesterol. He said LDL cholesterol may rise, blood pressure may increase, and abdominal fat and insulin resistance can develop. He also cautioned that these changes occur gradually and that aging contributes, so the source does not attribute every cardiovascular change to menopause alone.
The first symptom he highlighted is new chest pressure or discomfort, which may feel like indigestion rather than the dramatic pain commonly portrayed in media. Jogiya said possible heart-attack symptoms in women can also include breathlessness, nausea, sweating, unusual fatigue, or discomfort in the jaw, back or upper abdomen. He advised calling emergency services if a heart attack is suspected, even when uncertain, rather than waiting for symptoms to become severe.
He also named breathlessness during familiar activities—such as climbing stairs or exercising—as a change that merits investigation. The third symptom is a racing or irregular heartbeat that persists or occurs alongside breathlessness, chest pain or faintness. Jogiya said palpitations can be common during menopause and often harmless, but those accompanying symptoms warrant assessment. A clinician may use an electrocardiogram or portable heart monitor to investigate a possible rhythm problem.
Recognizing Symptoms Beyond Hot Flashes
Menopause is often discussed through symptoms such as hot flashes, disrupted sleep and anxiety. The report draws attention to the need to distinguish those experiences from symptoms that may call for heart assessment. That distinction is relevant because a person may otherwise assume new breathlessness or chest discomfort is simply part of menopause.
The guidance is not a diagnosis or evidence that menopause itself caused a particular symptom. Its practical message is to respond to new, recurring or worsening symptoms according to their severity: emergency care for possible heart attack or palpitations with serious accompanying symptoms, and medical assessment for recurring palpitations, reduced exercise tolerance, dizziness or unexplained breathlessness.
Jogiya also cited risk factors that warrant attention, including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and a strong family history of early heart disease. He said premature menopause and pregnancy-related conditions such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes or pregnancy-related hypertension are also relevant cardiovascular risk markers.
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Menopause and Cardiovascular Changes
The Fit&Well report frames menopause as a period when cardiovascular health deserves attention, not as proof that heart disease will develop. Jogiya linked falling estrogen levels with possible changes in cholesterol, blood pressure, abdominal fat and insulin resistance, while noting that aging also contributes. The source does not provide study data, individual risk estimates or a detailed account of how these factors vary among women.
For prevention, Jogiya recommended aiming for 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week, adding strength training, choosing a diet featuring vegetables, whole grains, nuts and olive oil while limiting saturated fat and salt, and having blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked. These are general recommendations attributed to the cardiologist, not a substitute for personalized clinical advice.
“Menopause isn’t just a reproductive milestone; it’s a cardiovascular one, too.”
— Dr. Roy Jogiya, cardiologist and chief medical advisor at Heart Research UK, as quoted by Fit&Well
Symptoms Need Individual Assessment
The report provides general advice from one cardiologist; it does not report a new clinical study, establish how often these symptoms indicate heart disease, or show that menopause caused any particular case. Palpitations, for example, may be harmless, and symptoms can have causes other than cardiovascular disease. The source does not provide a method for readers to diagnose the cause themselves.
It is also unclear from the source whether Jogiya’s guidance reflects a formal Heart Research UK policy or a professional interview. The report gives no publication date in the supplied material. Decisions about testing and treatment depend on a clinician’s assessment and a person’s symptoms and health history.
When to Seek Care
According to the report, call local emergency services for suspected heart attack symptoms, including new chest pressure or discomfort—particularly with sweating, nausea or breathlessness. Emergency help is also advised for palpitations accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath or faintness, as well as severe breathlessness, collapse or signs of stroke. The source cites 911 in the United States and 999 in the United Kingdom; readers should use their local emergency number.
Arrange a medical assessment for new or recurring palpitations, reduced exercise tolerance, recurrent dizziness or unexplained breathlessness. Seek urgent advice if symptoms are worsening or if palpitations with chest pain, breathlessness or faintness have stopped. The next step is an individual clinical evaluation; Jogiya said clinicians may consider an electrocardiogram or portable monitor for suspected rhythm problems, alongside checks of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.
Key Questions
Which three symptoms did the cardiologist highlight?
Dr. Roy Jogiya identified new chest discomfort, breathlessness during familiar activities and persistent or irregular heartbeats. These symptoms can have different causes and are not, by themselves, a diagnosis.
When should someone call emergency services?
The report advises calling emergency services if a heart attack is suspected, including for new chest pressure or discomfort, especially with 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 often harmless. Persistent or irregular beats, or palpitations accompanied by chest pain, breathlessness or faintness, warrant medical assessment.
What checks did the cardiologist recommend?
Jogiya recommended checking blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. For symptoms that may involve heart rhythm, he said a clinician may use an electrocardiogram or a portable heart monitor.
Source: fitandwell.com
