Reasons you may wake up with your heart racing

Waking up to find your heart racing can be unnerving, especially if you do not know why it is happening.

However, many possible causes of a fast heartbeat (tachycardia) are not typically severe or dangerous, and you can often manage it with simple adaptations.

Tachycardia in adults refers to a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute. Understanding the potential causes can offer peace of mind and guide you toward the correct management.

Blood Sugar Levels

Low or high blood sugar levels can make your heart race as your body tries to balance the energy it needs. Your heart might also have to work harder to distribute nutrients.

Doctors and healthcare professionals may prescribe medications like metformin (Riomet) to stabilize high blood sugar or recommend dietary modifications.

If you frequently have low blood sugar episodes, you may benefit from having glucose tablets, also called sugar pills, with you. Glucose also comes in gel form.

Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety can make your heart race as your body activates its “fight or flight” response. This natural response releases epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, which speeds up your heart rate.

Night terrors are a sleep disorder more common in young children. These are episodes of intense fear, screaming, and even physical movement during sleep. It is common not to remember the episode, but it can still cause you to wake up with a significantly increased heart rate.

Doctors and healthcare professionals may recommend medications like fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft). They may also recommend lifestyle adaptations like practicing mindfulness and improving sleep hygiene to help calm your racing heart in the morning.

Dehydration

Dehydration can make your heart race as your body tries to compensate for the lack of fluids by pumping blood faster. This maintains oxygen and nutrient supply to vital organs.

A healthcare team may recommend drinking enough water and using electrolyte solutions in some cases.

Caffeine

The stimulant effects of caffeine can make your heart race because it stimulates the central nervous system, especially if you are female. This increases your heart rate and blood pressure.

Caffeine is also a diuretic, so it can reduce the amount of water in your blood, leading to dehydration.

Moderation is key, and you may want to consider caffeine-free alternatives.

Alcohol

Alcohol consumption can raise your risk of experiencing a higher heart rate, especially if you drink large quantities. It can make your heart race because it affects the nervous system and can also cause dehydration.

Alcohol stimulates excitatory neurotransmitters, which can increase heart rate and blood pressure as the body tries to remain balanced.

Doctors and healthcare professionals often recommend limiting alcohol intake to manage this effect on heart rate.

Sleep disorders

Sleep disorders like narcolepsy and sleep apnea can significantly affect your heart rate due to their effect on sleep patterns.

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness, leading to sudden bouts of sleepiness during the day. This irregular sleep-wake cycle can stress the body and contribute to an elevated heart rate.

Sleep apnea is characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, which can lower oxygen levels and put stress on your cardiovascular system. This can lead to a faster heart rate when you are sleeping. These interruptions often jolt you awake, causing a surge in adrenaline that also contributes to an increased heart rate.

Healthcare professionals may prescribe treatments like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines for sleep apnea or medications like modafinil (Provigil) for narcolepsy.

Lifestyle modifications, such as weight management and improved sleep hygiene, can also help manage sleep conditions.

Anemia

Anemia can make your heart race as your body works to deliver enough oxygen to your tissues. This increases the heart’s workload, leading to a faster heart rate.

Doctors and healthcare professionals may prescribe iron supplements like Ferocon for people with anemia due to iron deficiency.

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Fever and infection

A fever or infection can make your heart race as your body fights back, increasing metabolic demand. Raised body temperature can also contribute to a faster heart rate.

Healthcare professionals may recommend antipyretics like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or antibiotics like amoxicillin (Amoxil) if you have a bacterial infection.

Hormonal changes

Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle or menopause can affect your heart rate by influencing the autonomic nervous system.

These changes can lead to temporary imbalances that elevate your heart rate and may be more likely if you have a higher body mass index (BMI).

Healthcare professionals may discuss lifestyle modifications or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as an option.

Heart conditions

Specific heart conditions can make your heart race due to irregular electrical activity. This irregularity makes the heart pump blood less efficiently, leading to an increased heart rate.

You should consider speaking with a doctor or healthcare professional for diagnosis and to discuss treatment options, which may include medications like flecainide or surgical interventions.

Medication side effects

Some medication side effects can make your heart race. For example, stimulant medications like amphetamine dextroamphetamine (Adderall) can increase heart rate because they affect the central nervous system.

If you suspect a specific medication is causing your symptoms, consult a doctor or healthcare professional for alternative treatment options or dosage adjustments.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, is another medical condition that can cause your heart to race.

This condition occurs when your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine, leading to an accelerated metabolism and, consequently, a faster heart rate.

Treatment options may include antithyroid medications like methimazole (Tapazole) to reduce thyroid function.

When to seek medical advice

If you experience ongoing or severe symptoms, consult a doctor or healthcare professional.

Symptoms that require a hospital for immediate attention include:

• chest pain
• shortness of breath
• fainting
• unexplained fatigue
• dizziness or light-headedness

Early diagnosis can significantly affect treatment outcomes, so it’s always better to be safe when it comes to your health.

Summary

Understanding why you might wake up with a racing heart can be the first step toward finding peace of mind. While the experience can be unsettling, manageable conditions or lifestyle factors are often the cause.

Always consult a doctor or healthcare professional if you are concerned about waking up with a racing heart, but rest assured that it is often not a sign of a serious problem.

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