Jump to content

  • Set Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
Set Your LocationKahi Mohala
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Kāhi Mōhala
  • Ask an Expert
  • Heart Palpitations at Night
Content

Ask An Expert

Heart Palpitations at Night

Gary F. Milechman

Gary F. Milechman, M.D.

California Pacific Medical Center

Question:

I'm a 42 year old woman. I run three to four times a week. My blood pressure is around 115/74. But I have horrifying heart palpitations at night. I'm exhausted. I did a 24-hour Holter monitor and am waiting for an event monitor.

Answer:

Feeling your heart beat at night can be very scary. It sounds like you are pretty fit and healthy. It would be very rare, indeed, for palpitations at night to turn out to be something dangerous or worrisome. Symptoms to be concerned about would be fainting (syncope) or a very rapid heartbeat associated with feeling lightheaded.

If you have a normal physical exam, good exercise tolerance and a normal EKG, it would be very unlikely to have structural heart disease (a weak or too thick heart, or a valve problem). An echocardiogram could be obtained, if there is any concern about the potential for you having a structural problem with your heart.

The important thing would be to correlate your symptoms with your heart rhythm. If you have symptoms every night, the Holter monitor should have picked it up. If you did not have any symptoms the night you were being monitored, then an event monitor or another Holter monitor would be in order.

Generally, symptoms like yours are from extra beats (PVC's or PAC's, premature ventricular or atrial contractions) which cause some pauses and strong heart beats. Everyone has them, not every one feels them. I am very sensitive and aware of irregularities in my heart beats. I understand the feeling, but I know it is not dangerous. Sometimes symptoms are from just a strong normal heart beat (which can occasionally be caused by an overactive thyroid), and there are a variety of different types of rapid heart beats that can cause symptoms, and can be suppressed, if needed.

I worry that you feel exhausted. Sleep disorders, metabolic problems such as anemia or thyroid problems, need to be ruled out. Work with your health care team. You will get to the bottom of this problem.

Related Questions

Question
  • Pacemaker and Exercise
    I had a pacemaker inserted a year ago. It keeps dropping down and looks like the wires are about to pop out. I've asked my cardiologist about it several times and he said it's fine and should not drop anymore. I exercise 5x/week. Is that too much?
  • Abnormal Heart Rhythm Tests
    My primary care doctor detected an abnormal heart rhythm and wants me to see a cardiologist for an EP study. What is an EP study and what is the cardiologist looking for?
  • Pacemaker vs. Defibillator
    What is the difference between a pacemaker and a defibrillator? How reliable are they?
  • Sudden Cardiac Death
    What is sudden cardiac death and who is at most risk? Are there any signs or symptoms?
  • Detecting Heart Palpitations
    How do I know if I'm having a heart palpitation? What do they feel like?

Back to Heart Health

The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

  • Contact Us
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Request Medical Records
  • Make a Gift
Sign in to My Health Online

Billing and Insurance

  • Pay a Bill
  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Estimate Costs
  • Medicare Advantage

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Community Benefit
  • Annual Report
  • News

Our Team

  • For Employees
  • For Medical Professionals
  • For Vendors
  • For Volunteers

Careers

  • Jobs at Sutter
  • Physician Jobs
  • Graduate Medical Education

Copyright © 2023 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

  • ADA Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • LinkedIn Opens new window
  • YouTube Opens new window
  • Facebook Opens new window
  • Twitter Opens new window
  • Instagram Opens new window
  • Glassdoor Opens new window

Cookie Policy

We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences