Cherry05
03-30-2005, 09:07 AM
When I try to go to sleep I keep waking up with shortness of breath. It feels like I am having irregular heartbeat for a few minutes but I still try to get to sleep and then when I am finally asleep I wake up all the sudden with a shortness of breath and a kind of light feeling in my body. I can't get any sleep with it doing this. What could it be?
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Jo Gedge
03-30-2005, 04:24 PM
Hi Cherry - I would advise that you go to the docs for a check up. My Dad had been getting exactly the same symptoms for the last couple of weeks, waking up during the night and 'gasping' for breath, but it would ease if he got up and walked around. After much nagging he went to the doctors this afternoon, and was told he had a very rapid heartbeat (190) - he's now in hospital having tests run on him, but he wished he hadn't left it so long to have checked. Please do go, just to be on the safe side, and good luck.
Machaon
03-30-2005, 07:50 PM
When I try to go to sleep I keep waking up with shortness of breath. It feels like I am having irregular heartbeat for a few minutes but I still try to get to sleep and then when I am finally asleep I wake up all the sudden with a shortness of breath and a kind of light feeling in my body. I can't get any sleep with it doing this. What could it be?
Have you ever been tested for asthma?
For the asthmatic, the bed is one of the worst places, because of nasty allergens, like dustmites, and various materials and dyes.
When an asthmatic has an allergic reaction, the body releases hormones like epinephrine, and many others, which can cause the heart to beat badly.
Have you ever been tested for asthma?
For the asthmatic, the bed is one of the worst places, because of nasty allergens, like dustmites, and various materials and dyes.
When an asthmatic has an allergic reaction, the body releases hormones like epinephrine, and many others, which can cause the heart to beat badly.
leviathan85
03-30-2005, 09:14 PM
When an asthmatic has an allergic reaction, the body releases hormones like epinephrine, and many others, which can cause the heart to beat badly.
That's not true, in fact epinephrine is manually administered to people in anaphylactic shock from asthmatic reactions (among others) to counteract the airway swelling.
That's not true, in fact epinephrine is manually administered to people in anaphylactic shock from asthmatic reactions (among others) to counteract the airway swelling.
Machaon
03-31-2005, 08:27 AM
That's not true, in fact epinephrine is manually administered to people in anaphylactic shock from asthmatic reactions (among others) to counteract the airway swelling.
Thanks for your response. I am always welcome to corrections. My heart always goes nuts during an asthma attack.
Here is my understanding of what goes on during an allergic reaction:
The body's neurohormonal system comes to the rescue, during an allergic reaction, pumping all kinds of chemicals (hormones), including epinephrine. Epinephrine acts as a stimulant upon the heart and can cause all kinds of rhythm problems.
Even so, doctors administer epinephrine, during serious asthmatic reactions, even though it can cause heart rhythm disturbances, because it's beneficial effects, on serious asthma reactions, outweigh it's negative impacts on the heart.
What is your understanding?
Thanks for your response. I am always welcome to corrections. My heart always goes nuts during an asthma attack.
Here is my understanding of what goes on during an allergic reaction:
The body's neurohormonal system comes to the rescue, during an allergic reaction, pumping all kinds of chemicals (hormones), including epinephrine. Epinephrine acts as a stimulant upon the heart and can cause all kinds of rhythm problems.
Even so, doctors administer epinephrine, during serious asthmatic reactions, even though it can cause heart rhythm disturbances, because it's beneficial effects, on serious asthma reactions, outweigh it's negative impacts on the heart.
What is your understanding?
Lenin
03-31-2005, 10:04 AM
Cherry,
I think you are suffering from sleep apnea. Awaking with a start and gasping for air are markers for it.
An alternative that I'm not too well versed in is UNSTABLE ANGINA (not caused by exertion) which can often wake a sleeper.
A sleep clinic or a kind insomniacal friend could prove helpful. HAve him watch you sleep and see if you stop breathing. N.B., after torturing him like this for several hours you owe him a nice meal at the BEST restaurant in town.
I think you are suffering from sleep apnea. Awaking with a start and gasping for air are markers for it.
An alternative that I'm not too well versed in is UNSTABLE ANGINA (not caused by exertion) which can often wake a sleeper.
A sleep clinic or a kind insomniacal friend could prove helpful. HAve him watch you sleep and see if you stop breathing. N.B., after torturing him like this for several hours you owe him a nice meal at the BEST restaurant in town.
Cherry05
04-04-2005, 12:13 AM
Thanks for all the information. I went to the doctor and he put me on Propranol, it's a blood pressure medicine, but they think I'm having anxiety attacks so they're using it as a low dose of anxiety medicine. Since I'm so young they thinks its better than putting me on the actual anxiety medicine. I really don't think thats it, because I don't have much anxiety. I've never been checked for asthma, but my allergies are worst when I sleep. But here lately I've been getting this rapid heart beat thing all the time. It makes my chest feel really uncomfortable and the medicine isn't helping. It's like I can't breathe but I can. I guess I will have to go back to the doctor. I used to have panic attacks, I still do sometimes, and they think this is all from panic and anxiety attacks. But really I get them because this scares me so much, and it just makes it even harder to breathe. I'm not sure what it could be anymore.
started04
04-04-2005, 03:53 PM
I had similar symptoms. At rest in a reclining position I would awake in the middle of the night and hyperventilate (2 nights befere going to er). There was a feeling of smothering rather than SOB, also a fast HR (115 when my normal at rest was 65).
Due to gravity (laying down) fluid backed up into my lungs. Standing or sitting I was asymptomatic. The lung edema was due to a heart problem (I was in shock with that dx)!
Due to gravity (laying down) fluid backed up into my lungs. Standing or sitting I was asymptomatic. The lung edema was due to a heart problem (I was in shock with that dx)!
MacyMaid
04-04-2005, 11:10 PM
I have this also when laying down. Standing and sitting I have no problems. I have told my docs this and no comment. I asked if I had Congestive heart Failure or Cardiomyopathy and they said No. But, they also said I never had a heart attack and they were dead wrong. Chest x-rays are all normal.
Ken, what are they treating you with?
________________________________________ _______________
Due to gravity (laying down) fluid backed up into my lungs. Standing or sitting I was asymptomatic. The lung edema was due to a heart problem (I was in shock with that dx)![/QUOTE]
Ken, what are they treating you with?
________________________________________ _______________
Due to gravity (laying down) fluid backed up into my lungs. Standing or sitting I was asymptomatic. The lung edema was due to a heart problem (I was in shock with that dx)![/QUOTE]
Cherry05
04-06-2005, 12:08 AM
Well I'm still not sure what is wrong. They still seem to think its anxiety. I don't feel like I have any anxiety but they assure me that I can have an axiety attack without thinking about anxiety. It's definately worse at night but it's coming during the day, too. I'm not sure, but I think I am having anxiety attacks and then I get scared that it's something worse that I start having a panic attack or hyperventilate. I also think it's worse at night because usually I think about my problems at night, but here lately I think it's because of one night when I had a lot of problems and had this anxiety attack and now I'm so stressed about having one at night that I actually start having a panic attack. Is this possible? It seems kind of far fetched, but I dunno.
bladebeam
04-06-2005, 06:06 AM
Yeah its definately possible, its like a vicious cycle.
In the end you get anxious about being anxious or dreading a panic attack.
I found it hard to believe to start with aswell!
In the end you get anxious about being anxious or dreading a panic attack.
I found it hard to believe to start with aswell!