Simply slowing the heart rate could cause more harm if your rapid heartbeat is a symptom of a more serious or long-term problem. Ventricular Tachycardia Ventricular tachycardia is a fast heart rate that starts in the heart’s lower chambers (ventricles).

1. Sudden Rapid Heart Rate And Sweating
2. Rapid Heartbeat For Several Hours
3. Rapid Heart Rate While Resting

1. A fast or pounding heart rate Short and infrequent palpitations at night are generally not a cause for alarm. According to the Mayo Clinic, they’re usually harmless.
2. Heart rate is controlled by electrical impulses that travel through contractile heart muscle and when there is a defect in the heart tissue, contractions can greatly increase. According to the Mayo Clinic, a healthy adult heart beats between 60 and 100 times per minute when at rest.
3. They're grouped according to the part of the heart responsible for the fast heart rate and cause of the abnormally fast heartbeat. Common types of tachycardia include: Atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a rapid heart rate caused by chaotic, irregular electrical impulses in the upper chambers of the heart (atria).

What is syncope?

Syncope (pronounced “sin ko pea”) is the medical term for fainting or passing out. It is caused by a temporary drop in the amount of blood that flows to the brain.

Syncope can happen if you have a sudden drop in blood pressure, a drop in heart rate, or changes in the amount of blood in areas of your body. If you pass out, you will likely become conscious and alert right away, but you may be feel confused for a bit.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

The ANS automatically controls many functions of the body, such as breathing, blood pressure, heart rate and bladder control. Most times, these things happen without us noticing.

How common is syncope?

Syncope is a common condition. It affects 3% of men and 3.5% of women at some point in life. Syncope is more common as you get older and affects up to 6% of people over age 75. The condition can occur at any age and happens in people with and without other medical problems.

Types of Syncope

There are several different types of syncope. The type you have depends on what causes the problem.

Vasovagal syncope (also called cardio-neurogenic syncope)

Vasovagal syncope is the most common type of syncope. It is caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure, which causes a drop in blood flow to the brain. When you stand up, gravity causes blood to settle in the lower part of your body, below your diaphragm. When that happens, the heart and autonomic nervous system (ANS) work to keep your blood pressure stable.

Some patients with vasovagal syncope have a condition called orthostatic hypotension. This condition keeps the blood vessels from getting smaller (as they should) when the patient stands. This causes blood to collect in the legs and leads to a quick drop in blood pressure.

Situational syncope

Situational syncope is a type of vasovagal syncope. It happens only during certain situations that affect the nervous system and lead to syncope. Some of these situations are:

• Dehydration
• Intense emotional stress
• Anxiety
• Fear
• Pain
• Hunger
• Use of alcohol or drugs
• Hyperventilation (breathing in too much oxygen and getting rid of too much carbon dioxide too quickly)
• Coughing forcefully, turning the neck, or wearing a tight collar (carotid sinus hypersensitivity)
• Urinating (miturition syncope)

Postural syncope (also called postural hypotension)

Postural syncope is caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure due to a quick change in position, such as from lying down to standing. Certain medications and dehydration can lead to this condition. Patients with this type of syncope usually have changes in their blood pressure that cause it to drop by at least 20 mmHg (systolic/top number) and at least 10 mmHg (diastolic/bottom number) when they stand.

Cardiac syncope is caused by a heart or blood vessel condition that affects blood flow to the brain. These conditions can include an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), obstructed blood flow in the heart due to structural heart disease (the way the heart is formed), blockage in the cardiac blood vessels (myocardial ischemia), valve disease, aortic stenosis, blood clot, or heart failure. If you have cardiac syncope, it is important to see a cardiologist for proper treatment.

Neurologic syncope

Neurologic syncope is caused by a neurological condition such as seizure, stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Other less common conditions that lead to neurologic syncope include migraines and normal pressure hydrocephalus

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

Postural-Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is caused by a very fast heart rate (tachycardia) that happens when a person stands after sitting or lying down. The heart rate can speed up by 30 beats per minute or more. The increase usually happens within 10 minutes of standing. The condition is most common in women, but it can also occur in men.

Unknown Causes of Syncope

The cause of syncope is unknown In about one-third of patients. However, an increased risk of syncope is a side effect for some medications.

What are the symptoms of syncope?

The most common symptoms of syncope include:

• Blacking out
• Feeling lightheaded
• Falling for no reason
• Feeling dizzy
• Feeling drowsy or groggy
• Fainting, especially after eating or exercising
• Feeling unsteady or weak when standing
• Changes in vision, such as seeing spots or having tunnel vision
• Headaches

Many times, patients feel an episode of syncope coming on. They have what are called “premonitory symptoms,” such as feeling lightheaded, nauseous, and heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats that feel like “fluttering” in the chest). If you have syncope, you will likely be able to keep from fainting if you sit or lie down and put your legs up if you feel these symptoms.

Syncope can be a sign of a more serious condition. So, it is important to get treatment right away after you have an episode of syncope. Most patients can prevent problems with syncope once they get an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.

What causes syncope?

Syncope can be caused by many things. Many patients have a medical condition they may or may not know about that affects the nervous system or heart. You may also have a condition that affects blood flow through your body and causes your blood pressure to drop when you change positions (for example, going from lying down to standing).

Is your heart racing at night? Does it wake you up from sleep or keep you from falling asleep? If your heart is pounding almost every night, you may need to see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. But if it happens only occasionally, then it may not be a serious problem. However, you may want to learn what causes fast heartbeat at night, read on to find your answer and possible effective remedies for you.

What Can Cause Heart Racing at Night?

1. Nightmares or Night Terrors

If you suddenly wake up with yourheart racing, you may have been experiencing nightmares. This symptom may be accompanied by fast breathing and sweating on the forehead. People who have night terrors usually remain asleep throughout their experience and do not remember their dreams, but they may experience rapid heartbeats. Although nightmares or night terrors are harmless, they can disrupt sleep or lead to some injury if they occur often.

2. Emotional Triggers

Heart racing at night can also be due to emotional triggers. Rapid heart rates are often triggered by emotional factors such as anxiety, stress or excitement, all of which increase the amount of adrenaline (a hormone) produced by the body.

3. Hormonal Changes in Period, Pregnancy and Menopause

Hormonal and other bodily changes during menstrual periods, pregnancy and menopause can cause your heart to beat faster. Fortunately, if you are otherwise healthy, these changes are temporary and will not cause serious problems.

4. Certain Medications or Substance

You may be taking certain medications that cause heart racing at night. Palpitation is a common side effect of many medications. Drugs medications used to treat high blood pressure and asthma, for example, often cause your heart to beat rapidly. Besides, the consumption of spicy foods, caffeine, nicotine alcohol and recreational drugs can also make your heart beat faster. Such an effect may be more obvious at night when your body rests.

5. Low Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force that the blood exerts against the walls of your arteries. For healthy adults, blood pressure is lowest when the body is at rest, usually at night. In the morning, as you get out of bed, your blood pressure slowly rises and tends to be the highest in the afternoon.

However, a few people have very low blood pressure at night, so the body needs to increase heart rate to maintain good circulation of blood. In severe cases, your heart may beat too fastso it gives you a feeling of heart racing at night.

6. Low Blood Sugar Level

Having a low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia) can cause your heart to beat faster, and you may experience other symptoms like dizziness, confusion, and shakiness. This can be a dangerous situation, particularly if you have diabetes. Your body depends on sugar for energy to be able to function. When your sugar level becomes too low, your body cannot function well, so your heart beats rapidly to overcome the problem. This can happen when you skip meals, exercise too hard or receive too much insulin.

7. Heart Disease

Heart racing at night may be a symptom of heart disease, which may be associated with coronary artery disease, a previous heart attack, or other problems in the heart valves or heart muscle. Click HERE to learn warning signs of heart problems.

8. Other Health Conditions

You may have a medical condition that causes your heart to beat faster. Rapid heartbeats may be caused by a number of medical problems that need further evaluation and treatment such as:

• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Diabetes
• Anemia
• High fever (body temperature of 38°C/100.4°F or higher)
• ŸDehydration

When to Seek Medical Help

If you experienceheart racing at night that lasts only a few seconds, you may not need medical evaluation. However, if you have frequent palpitations or a medical problem that may cause your palpitations to worsen, call your doctor. You may need further tests like heart-monitoring tests to see what is causing your problem.

Seek emergency care if you also experience:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Fainting
• Severe dizziness
• Sudden shortness of breath

How to Deal with Heart Racing at Night

Treatment options of heart racing at night depend on the underlying cause. In most cases, it is harmless and may go away without treatment. Your doctor may suggest you to avoid certain triggers and modify your lifestyle such as:

1. Medications

Treatments for palpitation include antiarrhythmic drugs, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. If these medications do not effectively reduce your palpitations, stronger drugs that act directly on the heart may be necessary. Remember to follow the medical professional's advice on when taking medication.

2. Catheter Ablation

This procedure involves small wires being threaded from your leg veins into your heart to trigger arrhythmia, in order to identify and treat the problem areas. This is highly effective when the specific region causing the heart problem is identified, such as an SVT or supraventricular tachycardia.

3. Home Remedies

If you do not have any medical problem that needs specific treatment, certain remedies may be sufficient to relieve heart racing at night.Here are some effective home remedies:

• Taking grape juice several times a day can help with palpitation.
• Ripe guava may be eaten on an empty stomach; also good for anemia and nervousness.
• Powdered anise seeds combined with dry coriander.
• Honey can be taken with a glass of water and lemon juice, before going to bed.

4. Avoid Triggers

Sudden Rapid Heart Rate And Sweating

Avoid foods and beverages or substances that cause palpitations like nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, and drugs. Avoid certain medications that stimulate the heart, such as medicines for cough and colds, and some herbal or nutritional supplements.

5. Manage Your Emotions

Managing stress and avoiding strong emotions. Stress-reducing techniques include yoga, biofeedback, tai chi, guided imagery, aromatherapy and otherrelaxation exercises.

6. Comfort and Reassurance

Sometimes, your symptoms are not related to a serious condition. With some reassurance from a medical professional, you may overcome your symptoms without specific medical treatment.

Rapid Heartbeat For Several Hours

7. Preventive Tips

If your doctor says that no treatment is necessary, you can try to avoid getting palpitations by doing these tips:

Rapid Heart Rate While Resting

• Keep a daily journal of activities, foods and beverages, and other things that may trigger your palpitations so you can avoid them. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Don't smoke.
• Eat a healthy diet to keep your blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure under control.
• Exercise regularly. Try some relaxation exercises, like deep breathing or yoga to reduce stress.
• Ask your doctor about switching medications if you think they are causing palpitations.