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What Causes Heart Palpitations Upon Waking Up At Night?

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Posted on Thu, 24 Sep 2015
Question: I am a healthy 79 yr old lady- only problem, very low. Vit D. Being treated. When I awake from deep sleep at nite and hurry to bathroom, upon returning to bed, my heart races for about 3-4 minutes.
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Answered by Dr. Luchuo Engelbert Bain (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
No worries, getti g up more slowly from and bed, walking slower reduces fee

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for the query,

I understand this can be very disturbing. However, to properly ascertain the issue, I might a few questions for clarification. Do you experience similar heart racing when you walk very fast? Are there other situations that you remember that give similar sensations at the level of the heart as these?


I do not think this should worry you much. It is but normal for your heart to beat faster when you move from a sitting or lying position to an upright position abruptly. This is a natural regulatory mechanism of the body to redistribute blood to certain areas of the brain when you stand abruptly, by beating faster. When you sit up fast, blood generally drains to the lower parts of the body at the expense of the brain, the heart then has to beat faster to compensate for this, to send more blood to the brain to allow it to function properly. It is true that this is felt as palpitations in some persons, and some people never notice externally.

the fact that this comes back to normal a few minutes later in my opinion is reassuring and you should not worry much. Getting up from bed slowly when you want to go to the toilet will create a difference. Going to the toilet a,so slower will reduce this feeling.

No big worries for now as I wish you the best of health.

Thanks and kind regards,

Dr Bain
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Luchuo Engelbert Bain

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 3092 Questions

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What Causes Heart Palpitations Upon Waking Up At Night?

Brief Answer: No worries, getti g up more slowly from and bed, walking slower reduces fee Detailed Answer: Hi and thanks for the query, I understand this can be very disturbing. However, to properly ascertain the issue, I might a few questions for clarification. Do you experience similar heart racing when you walk very fast? Are there other situations that you remember that give similar sensations at the level of the heart as these? I do not think this should worry you much. It is but normal for your heart to beat faster when you move from a sitting or lying position to an upright position abruptly. This is a natural regulatory mechanism of the body to redistribute blood to certain areas of the brain when you stand abruptly, by beating faster. When you sit up fast, blood generally drains to the lower parts of the body at the expense of the brain, the heart then has to beat faster to compensate for this, to send more blood to the brain to allow it to function properly. It is true that this is felt as palpitations in some persons, and some people never notice externally. the fact that this comes back to normal a few minutes later in my opinion is reassuring and you should not worry much. Getting up from bed slowly when you want to go to the toilet will create a difference. Going to the toilet a,so slower will reduce this feeling. No big worries for now as I wish you the best of health. Thanks and kind regards, Dr Bain