Expert Care For Night Palpitations
It’s 2 AM. You suddenly wake up with your heart racing and a tight feeling in your chest. For a moment, you wonder—Is something wrong with my heart?
You’re not alone. Many people experience this sudden jolt in the middle of the night. While it feels scary, in many cases, your heart isn’t the problem—it’s just reacting to something else going on in your body.
Hidden culprits like obstructive sleep apnea and hormonal imbalances may be silently interfering with your sleep—and your heart. Here’s what you need to know.
The Eskag Promise: Expert care, 24×7—because your heart health matters, day or night.
Key Takeaways:
- Waking up with a racing heart is often a physiological panic response triggered by hidden issues like obstructive sleep apnea or hormonal surges.
- Ignoring persistent nighttime palpitations is risky, as untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious long-term health problems like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
- Proper medical diagnosis, including sleep studies or cardiac monitoring, is crucial to identify the root cause and access effective treatments like CPAP therapy.
The Oxygen Drop: How Obstructive Sleep Apnea Strains Your Heart
What is Happening?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is more than just loud snoring. It occurs when the soft tissues in your throat collapse temporarily during sleep, blocking airflow. These pauses in breathing (apneas) can last seconds to minutes—and happen dozens of times per hour.
The Panic Button
Each time oxygen drops, the brain senses danger. It hits the panic button, flooding your body with adrenaline and stress hormones to wake you up and restart breathing. This natural alarm is vital—but over time, it trains your heart to overreact.
The Result
These frequent adrenaline surges can cause:
- A racing heart at night.
- Skipped or irregular beats.
- Even serious arrhythmias like Atrial Fibrillation (AFib).
Your heart isn’t overreacting—it’s responding to a threat.
Common Sleep Apnea Causes You Shouldn’t Ignore
While anyone can develop OSA, certain factors raise your risk:
- Excess weight (especially around the neck).
- Thicker neck circumference.
- Age over 40.
- Smoking and alcohol use.
- Family history.
Importantly, snoring alone isn’t the issue. The real danger lies in repeated pauses in breathing that disrupt your oxygen flow and heart rhythm.
The Chemical Balance: The Role of the Sleep Hormone
Melatonin vs. Cortisol
Your body relies on a delicate rhythm of melatonin (the sleep hormone) and cortisol (the stress hormone). Melatonin helps you fall and stay asleep, while cortisol should taper off at night.
When this balance is disrupted—due to stress, poor sleep hygiene, or underlying conditions—cortisol spikes at night, triggering palpitations.
The Disruption
Poor sleep, late-night screen exposure, and sleep apnea all reduce melatonin and increase cortisol, leading to:
- Restless sleep.
- Nighttime anxiety.
- Racing heart upon waking.
- Thyroid & Menopause.
Changes in hormones—like during menopause or with thyroid problems—can also cause your heart to race at night. Many women going through perimenopause notice more irregular heartbeats, especially during night sweats or hot flashes.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Red Flags
- Waking up often at night with a fast or uneven heartbeat.
- Feeling tired, foggy, or having headaches in the morning.
- Loud snoring or someone noticing you stop breathing while asleep.
- Feeling anxious or short of breath during the night.
The Danger of Ignoring It
Chronic palpitations or undiagnosed sleep apnea can increase your risk of:
- High blood pressure.
- Heart disease.
- Stroke.
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Finding Help from Experts.
Don’t brush off these signs. Catching the problem early can make a big difference—for both your heart and your sleep.
Diagnosis and Care at Eskag Sanjeevani Hospitals
At Eskag Sanjeevani, we believe in treating the whole person, not just the symptoms.
Holistic Approach
We combine the latest medical tests with personal care to create treatment plans tailored to each patient’s specific health needs.
The Tests
- Sleep Study (Polysomnography): Monitors your breathing, heart rate, and sleep patterns overnight.
- ECG or Holter Monitor: Checks for irregular heart rhythms over a short or extended period.
- Blood Tests: Looks at thyroid function, hormone levels, and important vitamins.
- Echocardiogram: An ultrasound of your heart to see how well it’s working.
Treatment
Depending on the cause, your care plan may include:
- CPAP therapy for sleep apnea.
- Lifestyle changes (weight loss, smoking cessation).
- Hormonal therapy or medication adjustments.
- Stress management and sleep hygiene guidance.
Simple Steps to Calm Your Heart Before Bed
Here are a few doctor-recommended tips to reduce nighttime palpitations:
1. Limit caffeine and alcohol after 4 PM.
2. Follow a sleep routine—go to bed and wake up at the same time.
3. Avoid screen time 1 hour before sleep.
4. Try deep breathing or guided meditation.
5. Sleep on your right side or back—lying on the left may increase palpitations for some.
6. Keep the room cool and dark.
7. Get regular exercise—but avoid intense workouts before bed.
Conclusion
Waking up with your heart racing can be scary—but it’s also a message from your body.
Whether it’s sleep apnea, hormonal imbalance, or stress, there’s a solution. At Eskag Sanjeevani Hospitals Kolkata, we offer comprehensive care, from diagnosis to treatment, to help you sleep soundly—and safely.
Yes, gas or bloating can sometimes put pressure on your chest or diaphragm, which may make your heartbeat feel stronger or irregular. While it’s usually harmless, if palpitations happen often—especially at night—it’s a good idea to get checked to rule out other causes.
Sleep apnea isn’t always completely curable, but it can be well controlled. Many people feel much better with treatments like CPAP machines, losing weight, lifestyle changes, or surgery when needed. With the right treatment, you can sleep better and protect your heart.
Lying on your left side can put the heart closer to the chest wall, making beats feel more prominent. It’s usually harmless but should be checked if persistent.
Eskag Sanjeevani Hospitals in Kolkata offer multispecialty care, including expert cardiologists, pulmonologists, and sleep specialists. You can consult us 24×7.