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What Causes Fast Heart Rate When I Get Up From Sleep?

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Posted on Wed, 11 Feb 2015
Question: hi. I've definitely been worried about my heart rate lately. as soon as i get up and start walking from the couch to the bathroom my bpm is 135..after sitting down for 2 minutes it has gone back down to 99..sometimes 110 and it'll take a few hours to go back down to 90 which has been my resting heart rate for a while. I'm also waking up with not just a fast heart rate but a pounding heart rate of 115. could it be anxiety, pheo, or just me being out of shape? I just need a peace of mind and know what to do next.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (50 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Requires to be investigated

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to HCM and thanks for your query.
I understand your concern.
It is important to get an EKG done, to know whether it is only a fast heart rate or there are also abnormal heart beats (arrhythmia )
If it is only a fast heart rate (sinus tachycardia ), it can be due to anxiety, hyperthyroidism or poor physical fitness in addition to anxiety.
It is unlikely to be due to pheochromocytoma if there is no elevated blood pressure.
The way to proceed would be to get an EKG and thyroid functions done.
Is there any other symptoms like breathless or sweating.
You should also eat wholesome diet, exercise 30 minutes a day and practice stress relieving measures.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Noble Zachariah (6 minutes later)
upon standing it is 120..why is that? I think pheo because of sense of impending doom, fast heart rate out of nowhere..extreme irritability, shortness of breath..if someone raises their voice I can feel my heart pounding. it's like the littlest things set it off. I had ekg a month ago..blood pressure is 135/80 upon resting. thyroid is fine and so is blood sugar. what other tests should I have done
doctor
Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (16 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
It is possible to test for pheochromocytoma easily

Detailed Answer:
If you have a low blood volume heart rate increases on standing. Increase in heart rate when someone raises voice is likely to be due to anxiety or poor response to stress.
You could tests for pheochromocytoma to exclude /confirm it.
24-hour urinary catacholamines and metanephrines. This test is designed to measure production of the different types of adrenaline compounds that the adrenal glands make. Since the body gets rid of these hormones in the urine, we simply collect a patient's urine for 24 hours to determine if they are over-produced.
Another test would be to do blood catecholamine.
If these are normal, you do not have pheochromocytoma.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Noble Zachariah (3 minutes later)
what could be the cause for pounding heart rate during sleep? I haven't had any nightmares
doctor
Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (8 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Probably due to increased sympathetic activity

Detailed Answer:
The heart rate is based on a balance between sympathetic activity and parasympathetic activity if there are no other causes like anemia, thyrotoxicosis, fever or use of drugs with sympathomimetic activity or any cardiac arrhythmia.
It may be worth having a Holter monitoring done to know your heart rate and any abnormalities over a 24-hour period.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Noble Zachariah (4 hours later)
so it isn't unsafe that my heart rate jumps to 125 when I stand up? or could that be from being out of shape ? what does a normal persons heart rate jump to?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Postural tachycardia syndrome

Detailed Answer:
Your sudden increase in heart rate on standing can be due to a Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS). In POTS, the heart rate increases 30 beats per minute (or exceeds 120 beats per minute) within the first 10 minutes of standing. POTS may occur alone (primary), or it may occur because of another medical condition (secondary). It may follow a viral infection or trauma, surgery etc.
The usual change in heart rate for a person without POTS is about 10 beats.
You should increase fluid and salt intake , build the muscular strength of the legs and abdomen by aerobic exercise and resistance training.
If these are not helpful you may require medication.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Noble Zachariah (34 minutes later)
thank you :)is it unsafe to exercise ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes, but go slow

Detailed Answer:
Yes, but go slow. Your maximal heart rate is 197/mt. You can aim for a heart rate of 60 to 70 % of that.
You are welcome anytime to contact me for further queries if any.
Have a good day and good health.
Dr Noble Zachariah
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Noble Zachariah

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1974

Answered : 2319 Questions

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What Causes Fast Heart Rate When I Get Up From Sleep?

Brief Answer: Requires to be investigated Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome to HCM and thanks for your query. I understand your concern. It is important to get an EKG done, to know whether it is only a fast heart rate or there are also abnormal heart beats (arrhythmia ) If it is only a fast heart rate (sinus tachycardia ), it can be due to anxiety, hyperthyroidism or poor physical fitness in addition to anxiety. It is unlikely to be due to pheochromocytoma if there is no elevated blood pressure. The way to proceed would be to get an EKG and thyroid functions done. Is there any other symptoms like breathless or sweating. You should also eat wholesome diet, exercise 30 minutes a day and practice stress relieving measures.