Is your heart suddenly racing out of nowhere—and you're not even stressed? You’re not alone. Many midlife women are blindsided by unexpected heart symptoms like palpitations, racing pulses, and sudden spikes in blood pressure. It’s terrifying, confusing, and all too often dismissed as “just anxiety.”

In this heartfelt episode, I share my own journey with perimenopausal tachycardia—when my resting heart rate soared to 170 BPM—and the deeper discoveries that followed. If you’ve ever wondered whether your heart symptoms are hormonal, this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• My personal story with unexplained heart racing during perimenopause
• Why midlife heart symptoms are often misunderstood or dismissed
• The powerful role estrogen and progesterone play in cardiovascular health
• How hormone shifts affect blood pressure, heart rate variability, and anxiety
• Wearable tech (like WHOOP and Oura) as tools to track heart and hormone changes
• Functional medicine insights into cortisol, histamine, and HPA axis dysfunction
• When to seek emergency care—and when to explore deeper hormone testing

Resources Mentioned:

WHOOP wearable tracker: https://www.whoop.com

Oura Ring: https://ouraring.com

Learn more about Meadow Wellness and our Renew Her program: https://www.meadowhillwellness.com/

Connect with me, Dr. Sara Poldmae:

Website: https://risingwomanproject.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarapoldmae

Have a question I can answer? Send me a message! I love to hear from my listeners!

Big News: Our Midlife Concierge Program Is Launching!

Hi ladies, it’s Dr. Sarah here with something incredibly exciting I’ve been waiting to share. Monique, our amazing nurse practitioner, and I are launching a brand-new Concierge Membership Program exclusively for women in midlife right here in Maryland!

This high-touch, deeply personalized program is designed to support you through every phase of perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. We’re combining the best of functional medicine, Chinese medicine, lifestyle coaching, and bioidentical hormone therapy—plus weekly coaching calls and advanced lab testing—to give you the care and attention you truly deserve.

To celebrate the launch of our concierge membership program, I’m doing a special fan-favorite replay! We're bringing back Monique’s wildly popular episode, Hormones 101. Whether you missed it the first time or want a refresher, it’s the perfect companion to this exciting announcement.

👉 Interested in becoming a founding member? Email us at hello@risingwomanproject.com to learn more or reserve your spot. (Maryland residents only!)

We can't wait to support your midlife journey in a whole new way —and I hope you enjoy this encore episode!

Did you know you can start experiencing perimenopausal symptoms as early as your mid-thirties?

Many women feel confused and alone during perimenopause because the world totally fails to prepare them for it. If you relate to that, you’re in good hands because my guest, Monique Willingham, and I are passionate about helping women understand what’s happening in their bodies during this time.

This episode of Midlife Rise + Thrive will help you understand your hormones and empower you to reclaim your health. Welcome to the Hormones 101 class you never got.

Monique is a Nurse Practitioner who has been practicing in oncology for over 15 years and uses a holistic approach to help patients reduce inflammation and improve energy and mental clarity.


In this episode:

• The basic roles of your hormones
• Why your symptoms might feel inconsistent
• How to make your hormones happy

Resources Mentioned:

Visit Monique’s Website: www.remedygreenwellness.com

Learn About the Midlife Concierge Program: hello@risingwomanproject.com

Connect with me, Dr. Sara Poldmae:

Website: https://risingwomanproject.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarapoldmae

Have a question I can answer? Send me a message! I love to hear from my listeners!

Is your mind constantly racing, your body feeling depleted—and you’re wondering if you’ll ever feel grounded again? If so, this episode is your gentle nudge to slow down and reconnect. Midlife is often a whirlwind of change, and sometimes, what we need most is to simply pause.

Today, I’m joined by my friend and fellow yoga teacher, Alicia Sweeney, for a heartfelt conversation about the transformative power of yoga in midlife—especially the deeply nourishing practice of Yin Yoga. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or a curious beginner, you’ll walk away with a new appreciation for how yoga can become your anchor through change.

In this episode:

• Why midlife is the perfect time to return to—or begin—a yoga practice
• The emotional and spiritual benefits of slowing down through Yin Yoga
• How yoga teacher training can transform your life (even if you never teach!)
• The power of consistency over intensity in movement and life
• How Yin Yoga supports your nervous system and emotional release
• Letting go of friendships that no longer align—and finding connection through community
• Why authenticity is the highest vibration you can live in

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
• Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Blue Lotus Yoga Studio (Annapolis): https://www.bluelotusannapolis.com/
• 2026 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Info: https://www.bluelotusannapolis.com/200-hour-ytt
• 50-hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training (Fall 2025, for RYTs): https://www.bluelotusannapolis.com/yin-yoga-training
• Yoga Festival – Alicia in Maine July 25-27 (with 10% discount code: ASWEENEY25): https://www.maineyogafest.com/festival
• Yoga Festival – Sara in Asheville July 24-27 (with 10% discount code: spoldmae2025): https://www.loveshineplay.com
• Alicia Sweeney’s Website: www.yogalicias.com
• Follow Alicia on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yogalicias and IG: https://www.instagram.com/yogalicias

Connect with me, Dr. Sara Poldmae:

Website: https://risingwomanproject.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarapoldmae

Have a question I can answer? Send me a message! I love to hear from my listeners!