Arrhythmia

means abnormal heart rhythm that could be a noticeable, irregular or a fast heartbeat. Sometime arrhythmias a just troublesome but not a health risk. Other times they carry a risk for fainting, falls and sudden death.
Arrhythmias are common in perimenopause, increased by stress and by hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland production). Most arrhythmias in perimenopause are not serious and go away on their own without treatment. In perimenopause they are usually not an indication of underlying heart disease. However, the kind of arrhythmia related to a Long QT Syndrome seems to be caused by the higher estrogen and lower progesterone levels of perimenopause. A randomized study in rabbits who inherited the risk for Long QT Syndrome showed that progesterone therapy prevented sudden death.