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What Causes Palpitations While Getting Up From A Sitting Or Lying Down Position?
Question: Good evening,
I'm writing you because since a few weeks I've been experimenting palpitations when I stand up too fast either from a sitting down position or a lying down one. I have a fitbit which can record my heartbeat and decided to check if my heart beat was abnormal during this episodes. What I found out is that while I usually have a resting HR of 65, this would immediately jump up to 105 or even 113 when I stood up quickly, my HR would then go back down to 75 quite quickly (in about 30 seconds or so). Should I be worry? I feel a little bit lightheaded when this happens and it seems to be worst right after having a heavy meal.
P.S I had a head injury a couple months back due to me passing out and the doctors were trying to figure out what caused me to black out when standing up quickly. I therefore had an Echocardiogram, 24-Electrochardiogram, 24-hour Bloodpressure monitor and blood tests and it all came back normal.
I'm writing you because since a few weeks I've been experimenting palpitations when I stand up too fast either from a sitting down position or a lying down one. I have a fitbit which can record my heartbeat and decided to check if my heart beat was abnormal during this episodes. What I found out is that while I usually have a resting HR of 65, this would immediately jump up to 105 or even 113 when I stood up quickly, my HR would then go back down to 75 quite quickly (in about 30 seconds or so). Should I be worry? I feel a little bit lightheaded when this happens and it seems to be worst right after having a heavy meal.
P.S I had a head injury a couple months back due to me passing out and the doctors were trying to figure out what caused me to black out when standing up quickly. I therefore had an Echocardiogram, 24-Electrochardiogram, 24-hour Bloodpressure monitor and blood tests and it all came back normal.
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that your symptoms seem to be related to postural tachycardia or postural hypotension.
The episode of loss of conscience could be related to this disorder too.
For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician and performing a Head Up Tilt test to investigate for this disorder.
Some blood lab tests are also necessary to exclude other possible conditions that may trigger this clinical scenario:
- complete blood count for anemia
- fasting glucose and a glucose tolerance test
- blood electrolytes for possible electrolyte imbalance
- thyroid hormone levels.
Meanwhile, I would recommend some tips to prevent these episodes and thus improve your situation:
- try to eat more frequently and in small meals. Large and hypercaloric meals can trigger these episodes
- take plenty of fluids and increase salt intake
- stand up slowly from sitting position and avoid abrupt position changes
- avoid prolonged standing up position.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask me again whenever you have any other uncertainties!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that your symptoms seem to be related to postural tachycardia or postural hypotension.
The episode of loss of conscience could be related to this disorder too.
For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician and performing a Head Up Tilt test to investigate for this disorder.
Some blood lab tests are also necessary to exclude other possible conditions that may trigger this clinical scenario:
- complete blood count for anemia
- fasting glucose and a glucose tolerance test
- blood electrolytes for possible electrolyte imbalance
- thyroid hormone levels.
Meanwhile, I would recommend some tips to prevent these episodes and thus improve your situation:
- try to eat more frequently and in small meals. Large and hypercaloric meals can trigger these episodes
- take plenty of fluids and increase salt intake
- stand up slowly from sitting position and avoid abrupt position changes
- avoid prolonged standing up position.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask me again whenever you have any other uncertainties!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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