Heart pounding while laying on right side

[Kelly_27]

Hello, I am 22 yrs old and I have always been pretty healthy. For the last 3-5 years I have noticed that almost every time I lay down on my RIGHT side, my heart will start pounding a lot harder and faster. But as soon as I roll over on my back, roll to my left side, or sit up, it begins beating normally again. Once in a while this will also happen if I slouch down really low in a chair. I have no other symptoms while this is happening. Since it never happens any other time throughout the day, I've never felt really concerned about it. But it has been happening for years now, so do you think this is something to be worried about?

[TB1213]

I was told by a doctor if your heart races when you lay on your left side it's a symptom you could have a fatty liver... liver pushing on your heart when you lay down

[debbiephome]

I have had the exact same thing as well, pounding, loud heart beat when I lay on my right side at night. I mentioned this to my Doctor she ordered an echocardiogram which stated it was normal for my age. so I didn't really get a good answer from my PCP and have never gone to a cardiologist to see what their thoughts may be. I do have high blood pressure at times around 150/80. and have considered that this maybe why I hear my heart pounding, but then it isn't on the left side which I would think if this was the problem it would be.....I just have lived with it, its not that problematic but more of an irritant.

[DLS10]

I am also dealing with the same complaint...I lay on either side and my heart goes wild.  Last night it hit me so many times I've not slept. Doctors easily tell me, so do not sleep on your side...but I roll over when I start to sleep and am not aware I am in this position till I jolted awake by my heart beating so fast. I have asked my cardio doc about this and he just thinks I am imagining it.  Annoying!  Strangely enough, there are times when laying on my side does not bother me too much especially when I am consistently doing my treadmill exercises. One doctor did say it could be a spine issue since nerves from the spine may be impacted by some deterioration??? I have asked a number of doctors and they usually have no idea and write it off as a strange complaint they do not take seriously. I have lived with this for over ten years now, and am so tired of this. If I take a xanax, it is worse as I do not wake up soon enough and I feel worse when I finally do wake up. I wish someone had a real idea of what this was.  I do take CoQ10 and I still get this symptom. Ideas?  

[achillea]

There have been a number of studies showing that when normal, healthy, young, male medical students roll from one side to another in bed, their heart rate changes.  It happens.  In healthy people it has no medical significance.

The problem is simply the awareness of an odd sensation.  If you can do all your normal activities without fainting, barfing, breaking out in a whole-body drenching, cold sweat (no joke--this is a real symptom), the rhythm or strength of the beats is unimportant.

Adjusting to this fact is mostly a matter of counseling so that we understand we are not in any danger. It just feels funny.

[martinex]

I have exactly the same problem.  I recently gained a lot of weight and I thought that maybe lying on my side put weight on my heart.  Just like you, changing positions resulted in my heart rate returning to normal.  Unfortunately lying on my side is the only way I can sleep.

[rilesnic]

I have to sleep on my right side b/c of the pounding of my heart on my left side...drives me crazy, so I just flip over and fall asleep the other way.  Have noticed this for the last 5 or 6 years.  My cardio told me that your heart is not held in your chest by anything other than vessels and arteries, so it can shift a little from one side or the other, or be positional.  It does make sense that if you're lying on one side, and it shifts some, you would feel the beat.  As always, let your doc know what's going on.  Best to you!

[celia2]

It's not uncommom to feel your heart pounding when lying on your left side (recovery position) unless you don't have any other symptoms.  I'm an RN and of course just my opinion and not a diagnosis.

[cindy707]

My two cents worth is that it may just be something so simple as the way that you blood is flowing out thru your valves of the heart.  If you are changing positions and it helps to me it makes sense.  Obviously much of our day is spent in an upright position and there is a little more work put on the heart with our activities and the blood flow does what i call the dance through our valves into the heart because each one has a job to do...and quite possibly when you sit or lay in a specific position the bloodflow changes on you from the way it is entering and exiting your heart.  However...my personal advice would be if you keep feeling the pounding sensation or that something just isn't right make a call to your doc and have them do a little listen because many times they can catch something with their stethescope.  Hope this helped a little but like Jerrys post i wouldn't worry too much unless the episodes increase or you wake up out of your sleep with your heart racing or pounding and at that point time to see a doc ......good luck

[Kelly_27]

Thanks for responding. My resting heart rate is normal when this isn't happening - around 70. I check my blood pressure at home from time to time, and it's always been normal. I've never really considered it being caused by what I eat...I just wasn't sure if it sounded serious enough to go to the doctor. (I don't have any insurance atm) I'll keep looking for other posts like mine. Thanks

[Jerry_NJ]

From the little information we have it is hard to say much, but I doesn't sound very serious to me, yet worth checking with a doctor.  Even at a young age one should see a doctor for a general check/up every "few years".  

Further, I can say I have read other posts in the past that discussed similar symptoms, and the best I can recall is nothing serious came out..perhaps there is something about the body construct that makes the HB more noticeable when one is on their right side.  I know I can sometimes "hear" my heart beat when in bed and on my side... but I usually can not hear it.

What is your heart rate?  How about your blood pressure?  Any connections to what you eat and drink.  These are just some question you may want to think about and you may find a answer.

Good luck,