Heart problems when I'm asleep - Heart Disorders Message Board

Cherry05 · 03-30-2005, 06:07 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?

Jo Gedge · 03-30-2005, 01:24 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, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cherry05

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.

leviathan85 · 03-30-2005, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beerzoids

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.

Machaon · 03-31-2005, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leviathan85

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?