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What Do Strong And Fast Heartbeats During Sleep Indicate?
Question: Dr - I have a rather difficult and stressful job as a lawyer in a litigation practice, I do not have any help & work alone in this job. Sometimes the demands of my job are very high. In addition, on some days when I also do some especially strenuous exercise on top of that & when I have had a rather long day - I sometimes notice the following symptoms:
1. I notice that when I am trying to fall asleep that just a few minutes or seconds of falling asleep I feel my heart beating fast and the heartbeats are very strong
2. And I am awakened by these strong and fast heartbeats
3. Then these fast & strong heartbeats continue for some time as I lie awakened
4. Then after some time maybe 30 minutes or more I am able to fall asleep
5. Is this something to be concerned about?
Thank you.
1. I notice that when I am trying to fall asleep that just a few minutes or seconds of falling asleep I feel my heart beating fast and the heartbeats are very strong
2. And I am awakened by these strong and fast heartbeats
3. Then these fast & strong heartbeats continue for some time as I lie awakened
4. Then after some time maybe 30 minutes or more I am able to fall asleep
5. Is this something to be concerned about?
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thanks for posting your query.
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that your symptoms do not seem to be related to any cardiac disorders.
Anxiety and psychological stress seem to be the main cause of your symptoms.
You should know that psychological stress can trigger the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increased circulating levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline, thus leading to an increased heart rate and even ectopic heartbeats. This is a quite common phenomenon, even when we try to sleep.
In the morning it is quite normal to experience some palpitations or ectopic heartbeats, as waking up is experienced as a stress by our body, which has been at total relax during the night, sleeping.
Anyway, if the problem persists, I would recommend performing some tests just to be sure that nothing wrong is going on:
- a cardiac ultrasound
- an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring (Holter) to examine your heart rhythm trends
- complete blood count for anemia
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction
- blood electrolytes for possible imbalance.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
I remain at your disposal whenever you have any other questions!
Regards.
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thanks for posting your query.
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that your symptoms do not seem to be related to any cardiac disorders.
Anxiety and psychological stress seem to be the main cause of your symptoms.
You should know that psychological stress can trigger the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increased circulating levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline, thus leading to an increased heart rate and even ectopic heartbeats. This is a quite common phenomenon, even when we try to sleep.
In the morning it is quite normal to experience some palpitations or ectopic heartbeats, as waking up is experienced as a stress by our body, which has been at total relax during the night, sleeping.
Anyway, if the problem persists, I would recommend performing some tests just to be sure that nothing wrong is going on:
- a cardiac ultrasound
- an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring (Holter) to examine your heart rhythm trends
- complete blood count for anemia
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction
- blood electrolytes for possible imbalance.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
I remain at your disposal whenever you have any other questions!
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr- thank you for your response..
1. About 3 years ago I underwent several cardiac tests including echocardiogram, 30 day holter monitor & treadmill stress test & there were no problems detected
2. Do you think I should repeat these tests?
3. Do you think I should alter the intensity of my lifestyle so as to prevent these types of symptoms from appearing?
Thank you again.
1. About 3 years ago I underwent several cardiac tests including echocardiogram, 30 day holter monitor & treadmill stress test & there were no problems detected
2. Do you think I should repeat these tests?
3. Do you think I should alter the intensity of my lifestyle so as to prevent these types of symptoms from appearing?
Thank you again.
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows...
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the additional information!
As your previous cardiac tests resulted normal, it is very probable that even if you repeat them, they will result normal again.
Coming to this point, I would recommend first trying to make some changes to your daily lifestyle:
- work less or make frequent breaks during the day
- perform a lot of physical activity (aerobics, Yoga, running, recreational sports)
- try to avoid caffeine intake
- try to regulate your sleeping hygiene (fall at sleep at the same time every day, avoid caffeine intake or heavy meals in the afternoon or evening, etc.). Melatonin 5mg before sleep for a month can help regulate your sleep and also help reduce your complaints.
If these problems persist, I would recommend performing the above-mentioned tests just to be sure that everything is OK.
Hope to have been helpful!
Wishing good health.
Regards,
Dr. Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
I would recommend as follows...
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the additional information!
As your previous cardiac tests resulted normal, it is very probable that even if you repeat them, they will result normal again.
Coming to this point, I would recommend first trying to make some changes to your daily lifestyle:
- work less or make frequent breaks during the day
- perform a lot of physical activity (aerobics, Yoga, running, recreational sports)
- try to avoid caffeine intake
- try to regulate your sleeping hygiene (fall at sleep at the same time every day, avoid caffeine intake or heavy meals in the afternoon or evening, etc.). Melatonin 5mg before sleep for a month can help regulate your sleep and also help reduce your complaints.
If these problems persist, I would recommend performing the above-mentioned tests just to be sure that everything is OK.
Hope to have been helpful!
Wishing good health.
Regards,
Dr. Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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