HomeAnswersInternal MedicinepalpitationsWhat could cause my heart flutter while lying?

I get heart flutters, especially while lying on my side. Is this a worrying issue?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Vinodhini J.

Published At October 14, 2020
Reviewed AtOctober 23, 2020

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

My heart flutters while sleeping at night. It wakes me up, then it stops after a couple of seconds. It seems to happen only when I am lying on my side. Is this something to worry about?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern. According to your statement, you have been suffering from heart flutter or palpitations at night. It occurs when you get the feeling of a strong pulse in the chest after you lay down to sleep. It is usually normal and not a sign of any serious health condition. So it does not need any treatment.

Sometimes, heart flutter can result from stress, anxiety, exercise, medications, pregnancy, sleep deprivation, too much caffeine consumption, nicotine or alcohol, etc. In rare cases, it can be a symptom of serious cardiac abnormalities like irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, etc., and treatment will be required.

And a common cause of a rising heart rate during sleep time is lack of oxygen, which can be happened by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is a condition where a person's normal breathing frequency may be reduced or sometimes flat out stopped during sleeping.

Treatment of heart flutter depends on causes. You should undergo ECG (electrocardiography), Pulse oximetry for oxygen saturation, ABG (arterial blood gas) analysis. etc., for the detection of causes and treat them accordingly.

By lifestyle modification, changing drinking habits, weight reduction, taking a balanced diet regularly, removing anxiety or depression, and proper sleeping, a person can control his heart flutter.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Muhammad Zubayer Alam
Dr. Muhammad Zubayer Alam

Pulmonology (Asthma Doctors)

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