It hasn't happened to me in a while, but last nite was awful. Woke up at 2 AM feeling like I was going to die. I felt very warm, checked blood pressure and it read something like 183 / 110 with 118 pulse. It scared the heck out of me. Besides this reading I just felt awful too. I immediately took 2mg of Xanax and about an hour later I was more under control. I am not on medication as my blood pressure has been in the normal range and actually last nite before bed, my pressure was great as was my pulse which was 65. So what could be the cause of this? I had no chest pains, had no trouble breathing - just felt like the blood was rushing through my veins and I felt anxious. I've written about this before and have come up with no real answers, but maybe just someone has had this experience recently and could provide an answer. I appreciate it. Happy July 4th Weekend to all.:p

It hasn't happened to me in a while, but last nite was awful. Woke up at 2 AM feeling like I was going to die. I felt very warm, checked blood pressure and it read something like 183 / 110 with 118 pulse. It scared the heck out of me. Besides this reading I just felt awful too. I immediately took 2mg of Xanax and about an hour later I was more under control. I am not on medication as my blood pressure has been in the normal range and actually last nite before bed, my pressure was great as was my pulse which was 65. So what could be the cause of this? I had no chest pains, had no trouble breathing - just felt like the blood was rushing through my veins and I felt anxious. I've written about this before and have come up with no real answers, but maybe just someone has had this experience recently and could provide an answer. I appreciate it. Happy July 4th Weekend to all.:p


It would help to know if you're on any medications other than xanax. I wonder if you've been eating high sodium foods lately. Excessive sodium can raise your blood pressure.

This has happened to me also. About 16 yrs ago, I woke up with my heart racing at 1:30 in the am. My husband checked my pulse and it was 120 bpm, so he called the dr. The Dr told my husband to have me "bear down" like when you have a bowel movement & that slowed it down almost immediately.
Then about 10 years later, I was noticing the problem happening again. My family dr prescribed a night at the sleep clinic. It was documented that I woke up two times in the night, from the deepest of REM sleep to wide awake instantly and would stay awake for about an hour after each awakening. I asked the medical director at the sleep clinic why that happened and he said he had no idea! So much for answers. Over the years I have found that I am VERY sensitive to many things, & so I try to avoid caffeine. Sometimes I think even eating high sugary foods right before bed causes the blood sugar to fall while I am asleep and my body reacts so strongly that it wakes me up. If anyone has any ideas, it would be helpful to know more about why this reaction occurs.

just so you that just happened to me lastnight i was dreaming and i felt my heart pounding in my sleep i woke up took my blood pressure and my heart rate was 97 sleeping! i was scared todeath and my blood pressure tends to go up when that happens ugggg i am trying to figure out whats going on myself i think it may be anxiety related maybe

I would suspect breathing difficulties during your sleep, such as due to sleep apnea. That can cause you to fight for air, and your heart pumps harder as a result.

Make sure you take magnesium supplements if you're on a diuretic- I had a simlar attack in association with hypomagnesemia I developed, but I doubt that was what caused yours.

Amazing! I came to this board, as I often do for an answer to a similar problem. I woke during the night with a nightmare, went back to sleep, wakened again and felt 'revved up' as I call it! I checked my pulse and it was racing. I didn't time it but having had it before, I'd say it was between 120 and 150! I got up, took some deep breaths, did the 'straining' thing and it would slow a bit then come back. I took 1/2 a Xanax, sat in a recliner for awhile, and it slowed to the 90's and then the 80's, and then would go back up, but not bad. I took my Toprol at 6:00 a.m. and it was about 8:30, before I realized it was now a normal beat--about in the 70's. I wondered if it was low potassium, so have had apricots, and two glasses of orange juice. I have had a headache all day too. I don't have a b/p machine anymore so don't know how it was. My husband said I snored alot during the night. I've had this happen before and it does seem to follow a bad dream, but not always and it doesn't happen often. I also take hctz (water pill) and Diovan.
Sounds like we all have a similar problem.
yanksgirl

Yanksgirl, I strongly suspect sleep apnea in your case because of the snoring episodes. The snoring occurs because your airways swell up and make it hard to get air. Then your heart beats harder as you struggle to get air.

Sleep apnea is very treatable with breathing assistance devices- forget what they are called. But definitely look into it because I've read blood pressure goes through the roof at night during those attacks.

Thanks, I plan to mention it to my doctor. However, I was lying on a new pillow and my neck was in a cramp (lying on my back) and I imagine my chin was being forced downward for some time and could also have hindered my breathing., when my headache started and woke me and then the rapid heartbeat followed. Also, these nightmares I have occasionally really cause my heart to race, but it usually gets better really quick. I have had this happen during the day--though not of late.
Anyway, I'll keep a record of when and how often this happens and have my husband help me with the 'snoring' record too. He tells me I snore alot. More of a squeal, at times and he has said I sound like I'm 'trying to get air'. Sometimes he wakens me, sometimes not, because I stop.
yanksgirl

ps: Is there any discomfort to the sleep test? Does Medicare cover it or do you guys know?

The only thing of concern about the sleep test is sleeping with all those wires attached to your head & body. But there is no pain or discomfort. It is similar to an EKG--only with more wires. There is a camera in the room for someone to observe you while you sleep, but the room is comfortable, like a nice hotel room. I had really hoped for answers, but all it did was confirm that I do wake up in the night. My husband's insurance covered it, but you could always check with your local sleep clinic to see if Medicare will also cover it. Best wishes to you!

Thanks for the information. Another think happened and I posted on the 'eye conditions' board for help today.
My headache became one sided, and I was unable to sleep except off and on last night. Had to put an ice bag on the right side of my head and eye. The pain is gone now but my temple area is tender to the touch and my eye is a bit sore and has been off and on for a week. Not sure if it's connected but I wrote on the eye board for any suggestions. I may call my eye doctor today.
yanksgirl

Over the past 2 years, there have been four separate occasions where I woke up with a racing heart (140-160). The first time it scared me to death, but I got up walked around, deep and slow breathing, and within five minutes it was normal. Each time after that, it didn't scare me as much.

There are a lot of things that can cause this: sleep apnea, or the less severe upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS), panic attacks in your sleep, perimenopause or menopause, and, as I recently found out, thyroid problems.

Sleep studies are no big deal and if you think you have a problem, it's a great peace of mind to have it checked out. (I had one 10 years ago.) Snoring is only one sign of sleep apnea or UARS, and even just plain old snoring can cause you to wake up or not feel refreshed in the morning. I was about 80 pounds overweight and recently lost 25 pounds--snoring has decreased tremendously. I still wake up a million times, but my GP and endo believe that's related to my thryoid condition and want me to wait on another sleep study until my thryoid is regulated and see if that cures the problem.

There are several different breathing devices if it turns out you have sleep apnea or UARS: CPAP, Bi-PAP, and APAP. There's also an oral device made to help keep your jaw pulled forward when you sleep.