Not being able to sleep is a common phenomenon for millions of Americans. Sometimes, it can be due to stress or anxiety, but sometimes it can manifest as physical symptoms that distract you from drifting off to sleep. One such example is heart palpitations that you can feel as you’re in bed trying to sleep. It might come as a weird feeling in your chest when you’re lying down.
This article will explain some of the causes behind this sensation. We’ll look at some treatment options and recommend when you should see a doctor.
Weird Feeling In Chest When Lying Down: Explained
If you haven’t experienced heart palpitations before, it’s natural to assume something’s wrong. That weird feeling in your chest might be an unexpected awareness of your heart. You might feel like your heart has skipped a beat or stopped for a second. A fast, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat that you can feel in your chest, neck, or throat may occur. This might lead you to feel distressed and panic, which might cause your heart rate to increase, or your breathing to become heavier.
So what’s going on?
Generally, it shouldn’t be a problem if you’re experiencing palpitations infrequently and they only last a short time. However, certain things increase the risk of this happening:
- Caffeine and nicotine
- Stimulant drugs, such as amphetamines
- Medications containing pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, or epinephrine
- Fatigue or sleep deficit (lack of sleep)
- Depression, stress, or anxiety
- Vigorous exercise.
Treatment Options
In the absence of a serious medical condition, treating palpitations involves controlling the risk factors that trigger them. In this case, it means quitting smoking or lowering your nicotine intake, lowering your caffeine intake, and drinking less alcohol.
Getting enough sleep at night is an invaluable opportunity for your body to rest and recharge. Being tired, stressed, or anxious can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure, worsening palpitations. That’s why it’s important to work with a doctor to identify and treat the underlying problems.
You can try and de-stress before bed and maintain proper sleep hygiene by sticking to a routine before you go to bed. Avoid using electronics before bedtime, and instead, try a non-stimulating, calming activity before bedtime. Meditating, reading, or performing breathing exercises can help.
Finally, try keeping a journal to track your habits, mood, and activities throughout the day and before you go to bed. If you experience palpitations, write down when it happened, how long it lasted, what you were doing at the time, and how you felt before and after the event. You can write down details about your mood and whether you’re worried or stressed about something – this might help you identify patterns in your behavior that increase the likelihood of palpitations.
Conclusion
It’s generally a good idea to see a doctor or cardiac specialist if you’re experiencing any symptoms that have to do with your heart. Importantly, if your symptoms are accompanied by chest pain, lightheadedness, or shortness of breath, you should see a doctor immediately. They’ll be able to perform tests and diagnose whether the weird feeling in your chest when you’re lying down is abnormal, requires medical attention, or is completely harmless.
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