How hormones impact your heart health

We have to talk about heart health. Over 40% of Americans are living with some form of heart disease, and one in five women dies from it. Awareness around heart health usually centers on cholesterol, blood pressure, or nutrition and exercise habits. And with good reason, these are all incredibly important to cardiovascular and overall health.

Hormones, however, rarely get the spotlight–even though they also play a major role in the daily functions of your heart. You may even wonder why you experience heart palpitations, blood pressure changes, or heart flutters around your period or during stressful seasons, even though all of your tests look “normal.” Often, the missing piece is hormones.

Understanding heart hormones can help explain what’s happening in your body and, just as importantly, help you feel more confident advocating for care that looks at the full picture.

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What are “heart hormones”?

Heart hormones aren’t one single hormone. They’re a group of hormones produced by your endocrine system that influence heart rate, blood pressure, blood vessel tone, and circulation. Some of these hormones include estrogen, adrenaline, cortisol, aldosterone and thyroid hormones. 

Think of it this way: Hormones act as messengers. They travel through your bloodstream and tell your organs, including your heart, how to respond to changes in your environment, stress levels, and the reproductive cycle, among other signals. 

Hormones' role in your heart health is why heart-related symptoms may appear during some events that may feel unrelated, such as:

• Different phases of your menstrual cycle
• Periods of chronic stress or burnout
• Starting or stopping hormonal birth control
• Thyroid or adrenal changes

Your hormones act as a source of regulation for many aspects of your health, which is why hormone health is an integral component of your overall health and wellness.

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How the cardiovascular system and endocrine system work together

Your cardiovascular and endocrine systems are constantly communicating. Hormones released by glands like the ovaries, thyroid, adrenal glands, and kidneys circulate through your bloodstream and affect your heart rate, blood vessel flexibility, fluid balance and blood pressure.

At the same time, your heart also produces hormones that help regulate blood volume and pressure. Additionally, the two systems work together–one system producing hormones and the other helping to carry them to the proper organs and other systems so they can do their job. 

Fluctuating hormone levels can produce noticeable cardiovascular symptoms. And since women commonly experience fluctuations for various reasons, we should have a basic understanding of how the cardiovascular and endocrine systems interact, and why heart health and hormonal health are equally important.

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What is the endocrine system?

The endocrine system refers to a network of glands that produce and release hormones that serve as messengers to maintain and regulate countless bodily functions. We cannot overstate just how important the endocrine system is; it’s directly responsible for:

• Your metabolism
• The growth of your bones and other body tissues
• Your digestive system
• Your mood and emotional response

This system has played, and will continue to play, a huge role in your health from the time you were conceived through old age and beyond. That is why hormonal imbalances can have such a devastating impact on how you feel and function.

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What is the cardiovascular system?

The cardiovascular, or circulatory, system is more than your heart. It’s a network that includes your heart, blood vessels, and blood, which work continuously to carry oxygen, nutrients, and hormones throughout your body.

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The key hormones that affect heart health

Several hormones play a direct role in how your heart feels and functions:

• Estrogen and progesterone support healthy blood vessels, circulation, and fluid balance. As these hormones rise and fall throughout your cycle, they can influence heart rate and blood pressure.
• Cortisol and adrenaline, often called stress hormones, help your body respond to challenges. When elevated for long periods, they can raise heart rate, constrict blood vessels, and trigger palpitations.
• Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism and heart rhythm. Imbalances can cause a racing heart, skipped beats, or fatigue.
• Blood pressure hormones like aldosterone and renin help control how much fluid your body retains and how hard your heart has to work.

When taken all together, these hormones explain the complex relationship between your heart and hormones, and, more importantly, why they’re dependent on each other.

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Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone

Sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone don’t just affect reproduction — they also play an essential role in heart health. The heart has receptors for these hormones, which means changes in hormone levels can directly influence heart rate, blood vessel function, and blood pressure.

Estrogen helps blood vessels relax and supports healthy circulation. It also protects heart tissue and helps maintain stable heart rhythms. When estrogen levels decline, like they start to do during perimenopause, the blood vessels can stiffen, causing a rise in blood pressure.

Progesterone supports blood vessel relaxation and helps regulate blood pressure, contributing to flexible and responsive arteries.

Testosterone supports heart muscle strength and blood vessel function. Balanced levels are important — both low and excessively high testosterone can increase cardiovascular risk.

Hormonal fluctuations or deficiencies due to aging, stress, menopause, or medical conditions can affect heart rhythm and blood vessel health. That’s why changes in heart symptoms often overlap with hormonal transitions.

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The link between hormones and blood pressure: What you should know

There is a ton of evidence that hormones significantly impact and help regulate your blood pressure. There’s even a name for the collection of disorders that arise from hormonal imbalances and blood pressure: endocrine hypertension. Hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone, adrenaline, and estrogen all play a role in this aspect of cardiovascular health.

In one study, researchers found that even in adults with normal blood pressure, chronically elevated stress hormones increased their likelihood of developing hypertension.

Data from another study suggests that an overproduction of the hormone aldosterone could be linked to high blood pressure. 

We’re still uncovering the connection between hormones and hypertension. But what we do know is that hypertension isn’t just a concern for later in life; younger women can also experience possible hormone-related blood pressure changes due to stress, birth control, thyroid issues, or other imbalances.

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Heart palpitations during your period

Given how closely reproductive hormones and heart health are linked, you may have anxiety over heart palpitations during menstruation, but rest assured, it’s actually common and mostly harmless.

In the days leading up to your period, estrogen and progesterone levels are oscillating as part of the menstrual cycle. These changes can cause benign heart flutters before and during your period. 

While mostly harmless, if you have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness or feeling lightheaded, you should seek medical attention. Otherwise, tracking when these symptoms happen in your cycle can provide valuable insight and help guide more personalized care.

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When to pay closer attention to symptoms

Hormone-related heart symptoms are often benign, but that doesn’t mean we should outright dismiss them. Aside from ensuring you’re talking about anything abnormal with your primary care provider, it’s important to seek evaluation if you experience:

• Persistent or worsening palpitations
• Dizziness or fainting
• Chest discomfort
• Blood pressure changes that don’t improve
  

At Allara, we believe symptoms are information. Even when labs look “normal,” your experience matters.

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Supporting heart health through hormonal care

You can support your heart and hormonal health by balancing hormones, managing stress, and maintaining a nourishing wellness routine.

That may include:

• Managing chronic stress and prioritizing rest with relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, and mindfulness practices
• Finding a well-balanced, sustainable, nourishing diet that stabilizes blood sugar and incorporates critical macro and micronutrients
• Adding a hormone-healthy supplement to your daily wellness routine, such as Allara’s Hormone Equilibrium
• Understanding your cycle and symptom patterns and reviewing them with your HCP so you know what to expect and when

Some factors, like genetics and age, are beyond your control, but an active lifestyle, stress management, and nutrition can go a long way toward both cardiovascular and hormonal health. 

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FAQs about heart hormones

Can hormones cause heart palpitations even if tests are normal?

Yes. Many hormone-related palpitations don’t show up on standard heart tests.

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Can birth control cause heart palpitations?

Hormonal birth control can affect blood pressure, circulation, and fluid balance. Some patients notice palpitations when starting, stopping, or switching methods. That doesn’t mean birth control is dangerous or unhealthy; you should make note of any similar symptoms and discuss them with your healthcare provider.

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Why do I get heart flutters during my period?

Hormonal fluctuations can temporarily affect heart rhythm and sensitivity, causing palpitations or fluttery heartbeats.

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Do stress hormones affect heart health long-term?

Chronic stress can contribute to ongoing cardiovascular strain, which can impact your heart health over time.

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What hormones raise blood pressure?

Cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenaline all influence blood pressure.

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Does Pregnancy cause heart palpitations? 

Much like your menstrual cycle, hormonal shifts during pregnancy can cause heart flutters and palpitations. Most are benign in nature, but you should always speak with your HCP about any pregnancy symptoms.

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Your heart and hormonal health care team

Your heart and hormones are deeply connected, but far too many women don’t fully understand what that means. The endocrine and cardiovascular systems work closely together to keep everything moving smoothly, so both can influence the other in ways that, if viewed separately, could lead to missing something crucial. 

At Allara, we specialize in holistic hormonal health and helping you find answers that connect the dots— on your timeline, in your space, and with care that listens. Because hormonal care is health care, and when you look at the whole picture, you may find that the answer is easily uncovered. 

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