Events caused by sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation, two disorders that share many of the same risk factors and symptoms, can wake you up to a pounding heart. Unless you have an emotional condition, such as anxiety, your increased pulse rate may have these physical causes. Sleep apnea produces nighttime respiratory disturbances. Atrial fibrillation is an arrhythmia that makes your heart pump harder. These two breathing and heart problems can stand alone, but often occur together. SymptomsShortness of breath and heart palpitations occur with sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation, and either could wake you. Loud snoring, interrupted breathing and choking can disturb your sleep when obstructive or central sleep apnea suddenly impairs your breathing at night. Inability to send enough oxygenated blood through the body because of atrial fibrillation can also cause gasping during the night or day. Joint Risk FactorsThese two causes of nighttime heart pounding are interrelated, with each potentially contributing to the development of the other. Therefore, they may coexist. Medical and lifestyle risk factors that can raise your chances for getting either condition include advancing age, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, excessive alcohol use and a family history of sleep apnea or atrial fibrillation. Sleep ApneaSleep disturbance is a hallmark of either type of sleep apnea. If you sit up in bed when you wake up, your rising blood pressure alone will increase your pulse. But interrupted breathing patterns also affect your heart rate and vascular condition. The long-term complications of untreated sleep apnea include blood clots, high blood pressure, stroke, congestive heart failure, heart attack and atrial fibrillation. Diagnosis and treatment with breathing machines, medications or surgery can help you tame your symptoms. Atrial FibrillationAtrial fibrillation is the most common type of abnormal heart rhythm. When your heart's ventricles, or lower chambers, contract too quickly, the atria, or upper chambers, can't supply them with enough oxygenated blood. As blood circulation decreases, symptoms of pounding or palpitations arise. Medications and electrical stimulation may restore a normal heart rhythm. Gastroesophageal reflux can cause the uncomfortable sensation known as heartburn, along with issues like a sour taste in your mouth. And some people experience this reflux at night when they’re lying down, which can lead to irritation and narrowing of your airways that may leave you gasping for air, Dr. Casciari explains. If you experience intense gastroesophageal reflux at least once a week, you might have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the more serious form of the condition, according to the Mayo Clinic. This can cause additional symptoms such as chest pain, a persistent cough, laryngitis, and (obviously) disrupted sleep, the Mayo Clinic says. Weirdly enough, it can also lead to new or worsening asthma, which is another reason you might wake up gasping for air that we’ll get to in just a sec. If you know you have gastroesophageal reflux and you’re often waking up at night with difficulty breathing, talk to your doctor. They may recommend dietary changes, like avoiding certain acidic foods or waiting at least three hours after eating to lie down, or medications such as antacids to neutralize stomach acid, the Mayo Clinic says. If your reflux is bad enough, they may recommend prescription medication or even surgery to fix the issue. 4. AsthmaWhen you have asthma, certain triggers like pollen or pet dander can cause your airways to become inflamed and full of mucus, making it hard to breathe, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. This can leave you gasping for air any time you’re exposed to a trigger, and unfortunately, this and other asthma symptoms (like wheezing and chest pain) also tend to get worse at night. One potential reason behind this is increased exposure to triggers like dust mites or pet dander that may be lurking in your bedroom, Dr. Casciari says. Also, at night, your body can release higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and that can boost inflammation in your airways, Dr. Casciari says. “Just like you would gasp when you have an asthma attack in the middle of the day, you could wake up gasping in the middle of the night,” he says. If this happens to you, you might feel better once you sit up, since it puts your respiratory system in a better mechanical position to get air in and out, Dr. Casciari explains. If you have an inhaler with medication that opens up your airways, you’ll probably also need to use that, but the specifics depend on your asthma action plan. If you only wake up every so often due to your asthma, mention it to your doctor during your next appointment. But if you’re regularly waking up gasping for air, you need to make an appointment ASAP. It’s likely that your asthma treatment plan needs tweaking to get your condition under better control, Dr. Casciari says. 5. Panic attacksA panic attack is a sudden episode of extreme fear that causes intense physical reactions seemingly out of nowhere, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. It’s a really awful situation that can present differently for different people, but in general, having a panic attack might cause a sense of impending doom, a rapidly pounding heart, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, chills, hot flashes, nausea, stomach cramping, chest pain, a headache, dizziness, and feeling detached from reality. You might worry you’re having a heart attack or even dying. |
Waking up out of breath heart racing
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