TL;DR
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Fit&Well reports that cardiologist Roy Jogiya cautions women not to assume new chest discomfort, unexplained breathlessness or persistent irregular heartbeats are menopause symptoms. He says some symptoms need emergency attention, while new or recurring changes warrant medical assessment.
A Fit&Well report highlights cardiologist Roy Jogiya’s warning that women should not automatically attribute new chest discomfort, unusual breathlessness or persistent irregular heartbeats to menopause. Jogiya, Heart Research UK’s chief medical advisor, says those symptoms may warrant medical assessment, and some combinations can require emergency care.
Jogiya told Fit&Well that falling estrogen levels during menopause can be associated with changes in cholesterol, blood pressure, abdominal fat and insulin resistance. Aging also contributes, he said, and these changes develop gradually. The report presents his comments as clinical guidance, not as a diagnosis for any individual or evidence that a particular symptom is necessarily heart-related.
The three symptoms he identifies are new chest pressure or discomfort, including discomfort that feels like indigestion; becoming breathless during familiar daily activities or exercise; and a racing or irregular heartbeat that persists. Heart attack symptoms in women can also include breathlessness, nausea, sweating, unusual fatigue, or discomfort in the jaw, back or upper abdomen, according to Jogiya’s comments in the report.
Jogiya says palpitations can be common during menopause and may be linked to hormonal fluctuations, poor sleep, anxiety or hot flashes. But he advises assessment for persistent or irregular palpitations, particularly when they occur with chest pain, breathlessness or faintness. The report says clinicians may investigate suspected rhythm problems with an electrocardiogram or a portable heart monitor.
Recognizing Symptoms Beyond Hot Flashes
The report’s main point is that menopause-related explanations should not be used to dismiss symptoms that could also signal a cardiovascular problem. That distinction matters because heart-related symptoms can vary, and Jogiya says women may experience indigestion-like discomfort rather than the severe chest pain often associated with a heart attack.
Jogiya also identifies risk factors that may raise concern, including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and a strong family history of premature heart disease. He says a history of premature menopause, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes or pregnancy-related hypertension can also be relevant to cardiovascular risk. These factors do not establish that a symptom is cardiac, but they are information to raise with a health professional.
His practical recommendations are regular exercise, a heart-healthy eating pattern and checks of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. The report recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, alongside strength training, and suggests vegetables, whole grains, nuts and olive oil while limiting saturated fat and salt. These are general prevention suggestions, not a substitute for assessment of concerning symptoms.
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How Menopause Can Relate to Risk
The Fit&Well article frames menopause as a time when cardiovascular health may deserve more attention, rather than treating it only as a reproductive milestone. Jogiya says estrogen helps maintain healthy blood vessels and regulate cholesterol; as estrogen levels fall, some cardiovascular risk factors may change. He also stresses that aging contributes, so the report does not attribute every change to menopause alone.
The source is an interview with Jogiya, not a clinical study or a new guideline. It offers his advice on recognizing symptoms, seeking care and prevention, but provides no study data, patient statistics or evidence that menopause itself causes an individual episode of chest pain, breathlessness or palpitations. The guidance should be read as reported medical commentary, with personal concerns assessed by a qualified clinician.
“Menopause isn’t just a reproductive milestone; it’s a cardiovascular one, too.”
— Dr Roy Jogiya, chief medical advisor at Heart Research UK, quoted by Fit&Well
Symptoms Need Individual Assessment
The report does not establish how often these symptoms indicate heart disease, nor does it provide evidence that a symptom is caused by menopause or a heart condition in a particular person. Chest discomfort, breathlessness and palpitations can have different causes; the source does not offer a way for readers to distinguish them without medical assessment.
It is also not clear from the supplied material when the article was published. Jogiya’s comments are attributed to him by Fit&Well, and the report does not include a response from another clinician or a formal medical organization beyond identifying his Heart Research UK role.
When to Seek Medical Care
According to the report, call emergency services if you think you may be having a heart attack, even if you are unsure. Jogiya identifies new chest pressure or discomfort—especially alongside sweating, nausea or breathlessness—as a warning sign. He also says palpitations with chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting, as well as severe breathlessness, collapse or signs of stroke, require emergency attention. The source gives 911 for the United States and 999 for the United Kingdom.
For non-emergency concerns, Jogiya advises arranging a medical assessment for new or recurring palpitations, unexplained breathlessness, recurrent dizziness or reduced exercise tolerance. Seek urgent medical advice if symptoms worsen or if palpitations previously occurred with chest pain, breathlessness or faintness, even if they have stopped. A clinician can decide whether tests such as an ECG or portable heart monitor are appropriate. These are the article’s general recommendations; anyone with concerning symptoms should seek care rather than rely on the report to determine the cause.
Key Questions
Which symptoms does the report say women should not dismiss during menopause?
Cardiologist Roy Jogiya identifies new chest discomfort, unexplained breathlessness during familiar activity, and persistent or irregular palpitations. These symptoms can have different causes and do not, by themselves, confirm a heart problem.
When should someone call emergency services?
The report advises calling emergency services if a heart attack is possible, including with new chest pressure or discomfort, particularly alongside sweating, nausea or breathlessness. It also flags palpitations with chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting, severe breathlessness, collapse and signs of stroke as emergencies.
Can menopause-related palpitations be harmless?
Jogiya says palpitations are common during menopause and can be associated with hormonal fluctuations, disrupted sleep, anxiety or hot flashes. He says persistent or irregular palpitations, especially with chest pain, breathlessness or faintness, warrant assessment.
What checks and habits does the report recommend?
Jogiya recommends checking blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, aiming for 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week plus strength training, and eating a heart-healthy diet. These general prevention measures do not replace medical care for new or concerning symptoms.
Source: fitandwell.com
