Strong heart palpitations when lying down – causes, treatment & prevention

Severe palpitations when lying down

Anyone who feels strong heart palpitations while lying down usually feels anxious. Seeing your heartbeat so clearly in this position makes most people think of heart disease. However, this symptom does not necessarily have to be associated with a serious illness. It is therefore important to get to the bottom of the causes and have a diagnosis made.

What is severe palpitations when lying down?

Of course, what is perceived as a strong heart palpitations can vary from person to person. Basically, the strong palpitations are characterized by the fact that it is explicitly perceived. In normal everyday life, the beating of the heart is not noticed. As a symptom, on the other hand, it is consciously registered as massive palpitations. The heart is beating and racing. Palpitations when lying down occur mainly at rest. Those who lie in bed at night find heart palpitations particularly frightening.

The fact that the symptom occurs in the lying position is particularly frightening for many sufferers. The heart shouldn’t be beating faster without exertion. The palpitations are then often perceived in combination with a faster pulse . A strong palpitations can also mean that, in addition to the intensity of the heartbeat, the rhythm or frequency is also changing.

causes

The causes of strong heart palpitations can be diverse. Since the symptom occurs while lying down, a performance-related cause can be ruled out. In many cases, the cause lies rather in a disease. This can be directly in the heart , but can also be caused by other organs. Sometimes, of course, the palpitations while lying down are not caused by a disease.The increased palpitations when lying down can be caused by cardiac arrhythmias. In this condition, the heart rate or rhythm is not within the normal range. A disruption of the aortic valve is also possible. This is called aortic regurgitation and is characterized by an incomplete closing of the heart valve. Since palpitations when lying down are a disorder at rest, advanced heart failure can be considered as the cause. In the last stage of heart failure, the problem can also occur when lying down. A distinction is made between left heart failure and right heart failure. Other possible causes are high blood pressure, an overactive thyroid, anxiety disorders or a problem with the spine.

Diseases

  • aortic regurgitation

When to the doctor?

Heart palpitations when lying down can indicate serious heart problems. Therefore, a doctor should be consulted as soon as the heart murmurs are perceived as unusual or altered. If the palpitations increase when lying down, vessels may be pinched, which contributes to disruptions in the body’s supply. Symptoms should be discussed with a doctor before they escalate or become serious.

If the strong palpitations trigger emotions such as fear or panic in those affected, it is advisable to consult an Art. Without treatment, an anxiety disorder can develop that interferes with everyday life. If there are other symptoms such as high blood pressure, impaired consciousness or problems with vision, a doctor should be consulted. There may be circulatory disruptions that need to be evaluated and treated. Without a doctor’s clarification, the risk of a heart attack or a stroke increases.

If the affected person notices breathing disorders or if he also suffers from sleep problems , a doctor should be consulted. If the palpitations are irregular or if there is pain in the chest, medical examinations must be carried out and treatment measures initiated. If the person concerned is overweight, it is advisable for him to report his symptoms to a doctor. There may be heart conditions that require medical attention.

diagnosis and course

Since the causes of increased heart palpitations when lying down are so varied, diagnosis can be difficult. If the palpitations when lying down reduce the quality of sleep , if it occurs regularly and frequently, a cardiologist should be consulted. This then usually carries out a stress test and listens to the heart. The heart can also be examined while lying down to check how the position of the body influences the function of the organ. An accurate diagnosis can then be made on the basis of the examination. The doctor treating you will also ask a few questions. If there could be heart failure, the problem has existed for a long time, for example. Fatty heart disease due to being overweight can also cause problems – explicitly in a lying position.

In some cases, the strong palpitations when lying down can also be caused by anxiety disorders or stress . In this case, the person concerned must be questioned more intensively. As a rule, the cardiologist will refer you to a psychotherapist if a malfunction of the heart can be ruled out. If the onset of heart palpitations was accompanied by rapid weight loss , the thyroid gland should be checked . Often there is an overfunction. Sometimes it’s just the effects of caffeine or medications that are causing the palpitations.

complications

In many cases, severe heart palpitations when lying down have a harmless physiological cause. It can occur after physical exertion as well as mental stress and is particularly noticeable when lying down due to the calm posture of the affected person. If the palpitations calm down by themselves over time, there is usually no need to see a doctor and no complication is to be expected. Nevertheless, there are cases in which permanent or particularly strong heart palpitations when lying down can indicate an illness with possible long-term consequences. This can lead to complications such as a stroke or heart attackif the palpitations indicate abnormally high blood pressure (hypertension). Those affected should take a close look if the palpitations occur during a digestive nap after eating. It can then either be caused by a full stomach or, albeit rarely, indicate an allergy or intolerance to a certain food.

Psychological complications due to severe heart palpitations when lying down cannot be ruled out either. They arise when the person concerned begins to be unnecessarily anxious about a harmless palpitations while lying down. This often leads to even more pronounced heart palpitations, which confirms the patient’s assumption that they have a heart condition. In order to avoid a stressful vicious circle and the development of a pronounced cardiac neurosis , behavioral therapy may be appropriate.

treatment and therapy

There are many treatment options for palpitations when lying down. Those affected often try to change their lying position with pillows on their back and to sleep a little higher. However, this is only a temporary measure and does not eliminate the problem. Severe palpitations should never be treated on their own. Because the problem is common in overweight people who lead unhealthy lifestyles, many doctors recommend weight loss. This is primarily achieved through a healthy diet .

If there is no increased heart activity during exertion, light sporting activities can also be combined with it. This can also counteract increased high blood pressure. In the case of an overactive thyroid gland, drug treatments must be carried out. Here, the therapy is carried out, for example, with the active ingredient carbimazole. The tablets usually have to be taken once a day.

If anxiety disorders are identified as the cause, drug treatment can also be sought. If the palpitations are caused by stress while lying down, the person concerned should try to reduce the stress in a targeted manner and learn to deal with it. Yoga , meditation or treatment with naturopathic active ingredients such as Schuessler salts can be particularly helpful here.

If the palpitations occur while lying down after consuming coffee or other stimulants, such as alcohol , the doctor must advise you to avoid these foods . If the palpitations then stop, the diagnosis and treatment can be confirmed. Sometimes a combination of some medications and caffeine also causes heart palpitations. In this case, the diet or medication intake must be adjusted if possible.

prevention

In most cases, preventive measures can be implemented to prevent severe heart palpitations when lying down. It is primarily a healthy diet and sufficient exercise, which in combination also counteract higher obesity. Above all, this includes avoiding excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption and avoiding many animal fats. Hot spices should also be avoided as far as possible. 

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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