Develop rapid heart rate while sleeping

[phyl]

I have had three episodes now during the middle of the night that are terrifying. (One was just while laying around) Out of a dead sleep I will awaken and my heart is racing so fast I can't even count the beats.  I start trembling and shivering and feel very weak.  The first time it only lasted about 5 minutes.  Last night it lasted almost 30-40 minutes before it would slow down.  I was so close to going to the ER, but was afraid the minute the ambulance showed up it would be normal again.  I had heard if you hold your nose and mouth shut and try to blow that causes your heartbeat to slow down...well that didn't work...Finally I decided to take a xanax and within about 2 minutes it slowed down.  I can't believe the xanax worked that quick, but after that I was ok and could go back to sleep.  This morning I awoke and feel like I have run a marathon.  Very shaky, weak feeling and tired.  This was so scary and I'm afraid it will happen again, but next time my husband might be out of town and I'll be alone.  I don't want to seem like a hypochondriac and run to the ER every time this happens but it really has me worried. I had a dr. appt last week and mentioned to him about the one when I was laying around and that it only lasted about 10 minutes and he said it was probably just an adrenalin rush, mostly because I do tend to have anxiety problems to start with.  What would cause this while sleeping.  I had no problems before going to bed.  How could anxiety bother you while sleeping?  I had worked in the yard earlier in the day and really pushed my heart rate up for a few minutes and had to go lay down and rest for a minute, but after that felt fine.  Could the exercise earlier in the day had caused this 12 hours later?  Can adrenaline really effect you in this way with rapid heart rate and palipatations versus being a true heart problem?  Sorry for all the questions, but I am so scared it's probably adding to my symptons now.  Please don't just tell me to go see my dr.  He thinks I'm a head case now as it is.  These are true symptons and it's not all in my head.  Thx for your advice.

[motherfroger]

A related discussion, @lionsbee111 was started.

[Lionsbee111]

I am 38 & also been have theses attacks during the night. Ive dealt with anxiety,& panic for 15 years & have learned to control them without medication, exercise is key. But this a whole new animal how do u control them when your dead asleep? I also fear I am dying or there is something very wrong, but I also have been tested & even went to the ER. But they found nothing. Except my liver enzymes are hi which is from drinking, because of the stress & worry of these attacks. So I have started acupunture a few weeks ago, not sure but its seems to help. I am also going for hypnosis today. I am at my wits end with this I pray it works. Its starting to affect everything. During these times I live alone with my German Shepherd, so playing ball with her helps & I even got a weighted hula hoop, its very distracting from the episodes, good exercise & makes u feel young..& laugh at yourself. So I do this until I feel my body can rest again. There is also a homepathic spray "rescue remedy", you can get from GNC or health food, it seems to help & work fast. Im trying to go this route, because I refuse to be medicated. Fingers crossed. Also FYI, anxiety tends to show up later when u are past prior traumatic or stressful situations, just speaking from experience. hope everyone gets better. Nice to know we are not alone

[aekr21]

is from stress but i am very relaxed.Can u be nervous without feeling nothing?my doctor said that many teenagers have these symptoms because of the age and hormones .i do not know can someone answer me what i have?

[aekr21]

when i had this two  rapid heartbeats i was not scared and nervous but feeling i was running for hours.after this two rapid heartbeats i have never had something like this but i was feeling terible sometimes until now for about 4 months.I am feeling tired in the chest not pain and very strange my head like i want to sleep or faint but never faint.It is very awful that feeling in this case u want to die.my doctor nothing found me i passed the physical exam with 100% success and said that this symtoms i had

[aekr21]

when i had the rapid heartbeats i was dreaming the same dream twice some guys chacing me.when i was dreaming my shelf to be chaced i put my hand in my chest in my dream and  feel i was exhausted but the joke is i was feeling like this in reality and hearing my heartbeat in dream.sometimes 1 time per week i have a kind of arrythmia feeling in the chest my heart skipping a beat and after this nothing happend.I have taken all heart tests because i am an athlete and nothing found.

[aekr21]

hey i am 16 and have woken up with rapid heartbeats twice over 200 per minite.I an an athlete and have taken all heart tests and nothing found like holter ,triplex physikal exam