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.

[petarro]

Has anyone come up with a solution?

[elkrunrockies]

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[NifferWpafb]

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[NifferWpafb]

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[Laxbuddy]

Hey Im having these exact same things happen to me I awoke after a somewhat intense dream and I shot up out of bed with my heart beating so fast and hard that it was the worst pain Ive ever felt which lasted for 5-6 minutes and my heart continued to race for 30 minutes and slowed after controled breathing. Im only 16 male and in very good shape working out and runing every day should I be concerned???????

[alw87]

i have anxiety probs too and im not medicated either and also wake upto a rapid heart rate! evn if i nap thru tha day sumtimes its only happend a few times but enuf to get me worried.. i consider myself to be relativly stress free at tha moment n not feelin anxious at all n iv jus woken from a day nap wit a rapid heart n its only jus slowed down after bout 20 mins, i try not ti stress n think why its happening while its happening cos thatl end in a panic attack for sure! does anyone no why this happens? by reading all these comments it def seems anxiety related.. good to no im not tha only one thinkin im gona have a heartattack n die!!