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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Heart Palpitations And Shortness Of Breath During Sleep?

hi i just wanted to know why i am walking up in the night soon after i have gone to sleep and suddenly feeling like my heart is racing and that i am trying to catch my breath. I feel as though my chest hurts and feels very heavy, I sometimes wake up only 1 or 2hrs after i have gone to sleep and then cannot sleep afterwards and find it very hard to sleep afterwards. thanks
Wed, 5 Jul 2017
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Cardiologist,  's  Response
There are two problems. there is the sensation of abnormal rhythm and the fact that it disturbs sleep.

To catch a rhythm that is not daily, I usually recommend a long term monitor to try and catch the abnormal rhythm and tie it to the symptoms that you feel. For you, this may not be needed.

Abnormal sleep and abnormal rhythm often go together. If you are very tired in the morning, sleep easily during the day and snore loudly, you may have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common cause of abnormal heart rhythm requiring treatment. A sleep study or the simple recording of your heart rate and oxygen saturation over night may answer both questions.

Discuss both options with your doctor to see which route will be most efficient.
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What Causes Heart Palpitations And Shortness Of Breath During Sleep?

There are two problems. there is the sensation of abnormal rhythm and the fact that it disturbs sleep. To catch a rhythm that is not daily, I usually recommend a long term monitor to try and catch the abnormal rhythm and tie it to the symptoms that you feel. For you, this may not be needed. Abnormal sleep and abnormal rhythm often go together. If you are very tired in the morning, sleep easily during the day and snore loudly, you may have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common cause of abnormal heart rhythm requiring treatment. A sleep study or the simple recording of your heart rate and oxygen saturation over night may answer both questions. Discuss both options with your doctor to see which route will be most efficient.