A racing heart can be frightening at any age. Palpitations are common during perimenopause and may occur alongside hot flushes, anxiety and disturbed sleep. In many cases, they do not indicate a serious heart problem, but they should not automatically be attributed to hormonal changes.
Palpitations can occur for many reasons, including stress, anaemia, thyroid disorders, abnormal heart rhythms and long COVID. A racing or irregular heartbeat can also accompany a heart attack or another serious condition, including Takotsubo syndrome, also known as “broken heart syndrome”.
