heart racing

I dont know if i have this ... for over 2 years now i wake up JOLT up im holding my heart and it is racing .. I always call for help to my husband and i am always sleeping on my back it never happens on my side ..I think i stopped breathing my heart is racing at first i didnt even know i was waking up my husband i was in such a deep sleep ..Now i try an see what i am doing just befor it happens..I used to wake up and he would be at my side feeling my heart i would have called him saying ** DAVE WAKE UP and make him feel my chest was odd ..im not sure if i stop breathing it is just what i think all i do know is my hreat is racing when i wake up ...this happen to anyone?

Have you seen a Doctor about this?

Holly:
You might want to go see your Dr. as Clownshow has suggested. You might be having a panic attack (which has nothing to do with apnea), sleep apnea or something else. It also might be nothing at all. Seeing your Dr. is the wise thing to.

If it is a panic attack, or apnea, there is very effective treatment available for both. Don't be afraid to check it out -take care of your health.
P

I've woken up with a start from time to time. I usually dream that I've just tripped. Others dream that they are falling or have other night terrors. Undoubtedly, it's due to low oxygen levels which triggers a fear reaction to wake me up. I don't recall my heart racing, but it seems a logical extension of that situation.

Some people do have much greater sleep apnea in certain positions. On your back, your tongue can fall back into your throat blocking your air passages.

Do you have significant daytime sleepiness, light-headness or fatigue? Do you ever feel like falling asleep during the day? Do you snore? Are you overweight? All may be symptoms of sleep apnea. The daytime sleepiness is the one that doctors look for most.

Have your husband observe you while asleep, especially on your back. Do you seem to stop breathing for more than ten seconds at a time? That is an apnea.

holly, I'm not a doctor, but I'd bet money you have sleep apnea. Get a doctor to refer you to a sleep clinic for a sleep study right away. Even if you let the doctor do other kinds of tests too, insist on a immediate sleep study. Insist.

Holly,

I too had the racing heart. It was the one sign that got me in search of a doctor. I went to a heart doctor first, because although my primary care physician briefly, casually suggested sleep apnea, I didn't understand the SA and figured the heart was the first concern (and I believe it should be). Turned out it was fine, not enlarged and failing like I'd imagined in my fear. Off to a sleep doctor I went, and learned it was the SA and lack of oxygen stressing a usually at-rest heart at night. You don't want to fool around and procrastinating over a heart symptom, no matter its cause. That racing heart is screaming for a reason. As the above well-wishers say, don't delay.