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Why do I feel heart palpitations at night?

Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS

Lying quietly at night removes distraction, so you notice beats you would never feel by day. Caffeine, alcohol, stress, poor sleep and lying on the left side all make skipped or forceful beats more noticeable.

Occasional flutters with no other symptoms are common and usually harmless. Palpitations with chest pain, fainting, breathlessness, or that run fast and last minutes deserve prompt medical review.

A useful habit: tap the rhythm on a table when it happens and count your pulse. That description helps a doctor more than any adjective.

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General answers only go so far. A doctor can look at your numbers and history and give you a written answer about you.

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Health education, not personal medical advice. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service now.

In an emergency, do not use this site. Chest pain, trouble breathing, weakness on one side, trouble speaking, heavy bleeding, serious injury, or thoughts of harming yourself: contact your local emergency service now.