Heart pounding when waking up from deep sleep?

Has anyone experienced this?

Why does this happen?

It doesn't happen always. Just once in a while but I am still curious why this happens. Even if it's normal waking up from sleep and nothing fearful like nightmares or anything

Who else experienced this?

I had this today, waking up from afternoon nap hence the question

If I wake up with a rapidly pounding heart, it is often because I awake from one of my typical horrid dreams, like for instance when I am driving a car and the brakes don't work or when I drive over a cliff or up a mountainside and flip over or any number of ridiculous things.

I would guess there is some sort of anxiety-inducing dream as cause. Or perhaps you've been ruminating in your dreams over the state of the world and impending doom all newscasters seem to delight in telling.

I would simply surmise that you don't really remember all your dreams.

Though it wasn't after a nightmare but i feel yes you are also right, maybe I don't remember what I dreamt and that must have been scary one

I have this every now and then. Usually when this happens, I am also somewhat breathless. Waking up with a pounding heart and feeling out of breath is a scary way to wake up.

Go get yourself checked out, and soon. It sounds like you’ve got sleep apnea. You could very well be getting little oxygen as you breath at night, or stopping sleeping altogether for short spells. It’s associated with snoring, and/or people with short necks that are overweight. Don’t take it as a stigma, but it’s a serious problem that can kill, and it has killed people. The heart pounds because there’s not enough oxygen circulating in the blood, so it has to pick up the pace to feed O2 to the body’s organs ….especially the brain. Do you also have dizziness or nausea waking up? It can have damaging consequences on the heart and body’s general health if left untreated.

There are a number of reasons why you may awake with a pounding heart.

They include:

1. Stress or anxiety.

Anxiety and stress levels can trigger the release of hormones in the blood that raise heart rate. Statistics suggest that around 31% of heart palpitation cases may be due to a mental factor such as stress, anxiety, or internal conflict.

2. Blood sugar levels

Blood sugar levels can affect heart rate. One symptom of high blood glucose, or hyperglycaemia, is a rapid heart rate. For people with diabetes, consuming sugary foods before a nap or before bed may cause them to wake up with their heart racing.

3. Caffeine

Some experts say that caffeine consumption can increase heart rate. Caffeine is present in coffee, tea, soda, and some medications. Research suggests this may be true for some people, specifically those with a particular gene.

4. Dehydration

Dehydration can affect the heart and may lead to an irregular heartbeat. When there is too little fluid in the body, this is known as hypo-hydration. It can lead to low blood pressure. The body tries to compensate by producing additional hormones to speed up the heart.

5. Alcohol

A high consumption of alcohol can lead to arrhythmia and a rapid heart rate, research shows. It takes several hours for the body to process large amounts of alcohol, and the effects of drinking in the evening can continue throughout the night and into the morning.

6. Night terrors or nightmares

A nightmare is a disturbing dream. Nightmares can cause physical symptoms, such as respiratory difficulties. This may cause a person to wake up with a racing heart. They may also experience sweating and shaking.

Night terrors can also cause a person to wake up feeling panicked and with a racing heart. Experts have found links between night terrors, vocalizations, a rapid heart rate, and breathing problems. When a person wakes up, they may not remember the specific details of these episodes.

7. Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that includes:

sleep paralysis

sudden drowsiness

sudden muscle weakness

attacks of sleep

It also has links with diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Most people’s heart rate dips when they sleep. In people with narcolepsy, it may increase.

8. Sleep deprivation

A lack of sleep may also cause a person to feel that their heart rate is higher than usual. Sleep disturbances or not getting enough sleep can cause a number of health issues. The next day, the person may also feel that their heartbeat is slightly faster.

According to the Radiological Society of North America, just 24 hours of sleep deprivation can lead to cardiac disturbances, such as an increased heart rate and high blood pressure.

9. Sleep apnoea

Sleep apnoea is when a person repeatedly stops breathing while they sleep. This can lower oxygen levels and put extra stress on the heart. It may also cause a racing heartbeat.

People with sleep apnoea can also:

snore loudly enough to wake them up

wake up gasping for air

have a dry mouth when waking up

feel tired the next day

Research from 2017 suggests sleep apnoea may also contribute to new appearances of Atrial fibrillation.

10. Anaemia

People with iron-deficiency anaemia do not have enough healthy red blood cells circulating in their bodies. Various symptoms can result, including changes in heart rate.

Other symptoms of anaemia are:

headaches

general fatigue

shortness of breath

difficulty concentrating

11. Menstrual cycle and menopause

Waking up with a racing heart may also be due to the menstrual cycle. More specifically, a racing heart can occur due to shifts in oestrogen and progesterone levels.

A 2013 study found higher variability in heart rate in females before menopause than in females after menopause or males, suggesting that hormonal fluctuations play a role.

Around menopause, declining oestrogen levels can lead to palpitations. Palpitations may also occur during hot flashes.

12. Fever

Changes in the body’s temperature, for example, during a fever, may also cause changes in heart rate.

A 2021 study of people in ICU found that for every 33.8°F body temperature rise in females, their heart rate increased by 9.5 beats per minute on average. For males, it was 7.2 beats.

Alongside a fever, a person may have:

sweating

chills

general fatigue

achy or sore muscles

13. Medications

A fast or irregular heart rate may be a side effect of various medications, including:

anti arrhythmic drugs, such as adenosine

some anticancer drugs, for example, trastuzumab

anticonvulsants, such as lacosamide

some antidepressants, for instance, citalopram

herbal remedies, such as Ginkgo biloba

Hope this helps.

Thanks a lot for your concern @Nurse_Nikki

No I don't have any dizziness or nausea while waking up. This pounding thing happens once in a while. Happened recently hence I asked. Before that it happened long back. I was just curious if it happens to anyone else also. Not out of medfet but genuine curiosity.

But yes once again thanks a lot for your genuine concern and sharing helpful information

@RN1993

Thanks a lot for your concern and sharing valuable information. Though I had shared this only out of curiosity as I said below, not looking for diagnosis. Obviously I understand that Zity is not a place for diagnosis. It's a fun place.

From what you have shared I can relate to stress and nightmares. Maybe I have a nightmare that scares me and stresses me out but I don't remember it waking up from deep sleep. That's the reason it happens only once in a while with long gaps in between and doesn't happen regularly

Once in my 30s, I thought I had woken up but I couldn't speak or move. My heart was pounding so fast I thought I was having a heart attack. After I woke, I searched the internet to try to figure out what happened. I'm wondering if I had a nightmare or sleep paralysis.

… I thought I had woken up but I couldn't speak or move... I'm wondering if I had a nightmare or sleep paralysis.

I also do this occasionally. It is a terrifying way to wake up. My anxiety immediately skyrockets and I feel very claustrophobic. I feel so powerless and vulnerable, and not in a good way like at the doctor's office.

Happens to me every so often. Its usually from a dream for me at least.