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What Causes Fast Heart Beat While Sleeping?
Question: I was half asleep and I felt my heart beating really fast. I got up and went in the living room and sat down and then got out my BP machine. My BP was up 147 over 103 and my heart rate was 143. I sat and starting breathing in deeply and breathing out and kept taking my BP. In 5 minutes time my BP returned to normal and my heart rate to 73. I have been taking Zoloft and the pharmacy ran out and had to order. I have not been taking it for 4 days. Could this have caused the change? Also, I have been worrying about moving things out of my apartment so they can put in new carpet. I have suffered with anxiety for many years. I was going to call 911. Should I go to the hospital to check this out?
Brief Answer:
YES - you should
Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic
You should see a doctor – a cardiologist
Now that it has settled down, it is not urgent, but is necessary. A routine ECG should be done, at earliest convenience
The description is highly suggestive of paroxysmal Supra Ventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
Anxiety / and withdrawal of the drug could explain the situation – but it rather ought to be an exclusion diagnosis.
It is advisable to have it investigated.
The first step is to see a Cardiologist
A thorough history and physical examination is the first step - Irregular heartbeats need to be DOCUMENTED by ElectroCardioGram (EKG). EKG – Routine 12-lead – is part of clinical examination. Standard ECG records the electrical activity of the heart, for a few seconds. It can detect the arrhythmia occurring during that time only. If the episode occurs randomly, one needs Holter or event monitor. Holter records for days; Event Monitor for weeks… Holter records continuously; Event Monitor only at certain times
ECHOcardiogram is necessary to see the heart valves (Mitral Valve Prolapse) / heart muscle (Cardiomyopathy) and heart function (Ejection fraction, wall motion abnormality) / clots...
TMT – Treadmill exercise ECG; may at times be done to evaluate ischemia (reduced blood flow / Coronary Artery Disease)
If there are no clues and if the problem is still bothering to the extent of interfering with life style, there are advanced techniques of investigations – Electro Physiological Studies (EPS) > it resembles angio – a catheter is put inside the heart / electrical activity recorded / stimulation and suppression tests are carried out / suitable medicine tested and so on
Though the test is the gold standard, it is INVASIVE and hence is not generally done unless there are compelling indications and pointers in other non-invasive investigations. This super-speciality expert is called ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGIST. The treating doctor may suggest them depending on need, based on his assessment of the situation.
Good luck
God bless you
YES - you should
Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic
You should see a doctor – a cardiologist
Now that it has settled down, it is not urgent, but is necessary. A routine ECG should be done, at earliest convenience
The description is highly suggestive of paroxysmal Supra Ventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
Anxiety / and withdrawal of the drug could explain the situation – but it rather ought to be an exclusion diagnosis.
It is advisable to have it investigated.
The first step is to see a Cardiologist
A thorough history and physical examination is the first step - Irregular heartbeats need to be DOCUMENTED by ElectroCardioGram (EKG). EKG – Routine 12-lead – is part of clinical examination. Standard ECG records the electrical activity of the heart, for a few seconds. It can detect the arrhythmia occurring during that time only. If the episode occurs randomly, one needs Holter or event monitor. Holter records for days; Event Monitor for weeks… Holter records continuously; Event Monitor only at certain times
ECHOcardiogram is necessary to see the heart valves (Mitral Valve Prolapse) / heart muscle (Cardiomyopathy) and heart function (Ejection fraction, wall motion abnormality) / clots...
TMT – Treadmill exercise ECG; may at times be done to evaluate ischemia (reduced blood flow / Coronary Artery Disease)
If there are no clues and if the problem is still bothering to the extent of interfering with life style, there are advanced techniques of investigations – Electro Physiological Studies (EPS) > it resembles angio – a catheter is put inside the heart / electrical activity recorded / stimulation and suppression tests are carried out / suitable medicine tested and so on
Though the test is the gold standard, it is INVASIVE and hence is not generally done unless there are compelling indications and pointers in other non-invasive investigations. This super-speciality expert is called ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGIST. The treating doctor may suggest them depending on need, based on his assessment of the situation.
Good luck
God bless you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for the answer to my question. Will make appointment today to see my internist. I'm sure he will recommend someone for me to check my heart.
Brief Answer:
Great
Detailed Answer:
Hi
The present episode was self limiting
We try to investigate with a view to confirm / find a cause / prevent or postpone future events
It is better to see than guess - there may be no clues at times, but it is worth the trouble of testing
Good luck
Regards
Great
Detailed Answer:
Hi
The present episode was self limiting
We try to investigate with a view to confirm / find a cause / prevent or postpone future events
It is better to see than guess - there may be no clues at times, but it is worth the trouble of testing
Good luck
Regards
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Answered by
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