Why does my head spin and my heart race at night?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand how unsettling it must feel to experience spinning sensations, rapid heartbeat, and dryness in your mouth when trying to sleep. Based on your description, here are some possible explanations:

1. Spinning sensation (vertigo): The spinning feeling when lying down or turning your head is most commonly due to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This occurs when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear move into the wrong canal, disturbing balance and causing brief episodes of spinning or dizziness.

2. Fast heartbeat and dry mouth: These symptoms can be related to anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances, or mouth breathing during sleep due to nasal blockage. Dehydration can also worsen them. While BPPV itself does not cause heart rate changes, the anxiety that often accompanies vertigo can trigger a faster heartbeat and dryness in the mouth.

3. Morning head pressure or imbalance: Feeling head pressure or mild imbalance after waking is common following vertigo episodes or due to temporary inner ear dysfunction. Sometimes, orthostatic hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when standing) can also cause brief unsteadiness, but since you do not report fainting or severe weakness, this seems less likely.

Your symptoms may result from a combination of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), nasal obstruction or mouth breathing, and poor sleep quality.

Treatment and advice:

1. Medication: Betahistine (Zevert MD 16) can help improve blood flow to the inner ear and reduce symptoms of vertigo.

2. Hydration: Stay well hydrated, as dehydration can worsen both dizziness and dry mouth.

3. Sleep position: Avoid sudden head movements and rise slowly from bed after sitting up for a minute.

4. Breathing: Address nasal blockage if present; allergy treatment or nasal sprays may help reduce mouth breathing.

5. Exercises: Follow vestibular exercises or repositioning maneuvers recommended by your doctor or physiotherapist.

6. When to seek help: If you develop new symptoms such as weakness, double vision, persistent vomiting, severe headache, or hearing loss, seek urgent medical attention.

Your symptoms are most consistent with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and sleep-related disturbances, both of which are generally benign and improve with proper care, medication, and gentle vestibular exercises. Regular follow-up with an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist is advised if symptoms persist or intensify.

I hope this answers your query.

Please let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.