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What Causes Faint Heart Beats And Trembling Legs?

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Posted on Wed, 12 Nov 2014
Question: Good morning I'm having a problem that I need to ask you about, I smoke cigarettes at nights before I go to bed and every night I wake up to a very faint heart beat and and trembling legs, it's even happening in the day now, my heart beat is very faint and sometimes my body tremble during the day, this just started happening about a week ago and I've been smoking for almost a year. Please let me know what you think.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Cigaretttes of course

Detailed Answer:
Well there are a few obvious things:
the cigarettes are likely to be involved.

Nicotine has several effects that fit with this. Mildest is that it can be a bit of a diuretic and lower fluids so, a bit of water or gatorade or pedialyte or oral rehydration fluid (and NOT coffee and NOT alcohol.. both also diuretics that really add up with cigarettes) can make you feel better.
Smoking at night is worse.. fire hazard and more effect of a diuretic.
You should get a simple EKG and mild examination neither of which is going to be very expensive and WILL be very helpful even if nothing abnormal is found (likely.... the diuretic effect, the heart effect of cigarettes that most commonly causes these symptoms doesn't cause immediate heart damage... just effects on fluid, cardiovascular tone, lung tone, slight drop in oxygenation, slight drop in ability to exercise... all of which would feel exactly like how you are feeling).

Then, the possible bad things:
asthma.. even very very slight lung inflammation can make you work harder to breath and affect the rhythm of breathing and acidity for the blood. Not much, not immediately hazardous, but you will feel it and it is a sign smoking is going to do bad bad things to you.

Theoretically, you could be having heart trouble. It is not common especially if you are under age 45. EKG would pick up really bad things.

Ok... Stop smoking.

Data from the XXXXXXX Society of Addiction medicine (of which I am sitting the boards).
First, motivation. Realizing, indeed visualizing the benefits of quitting (money, health, longevity, fitness, better sexual performance, etc.) and visualizing the consequences of Not quitting.

Second, nicotine replacement. Chantix is the most effective medication for quitting but if someone is on a LOT of cigarettes (2 pack a day) I recommend using other replacement (patch, gum, even e-cig)

I've got a lot more info on stopping smoking but would need more about when you began smoking, how much you smoke and what triggers you to smoke.
and, it's a bit off the main topic and getting a bit long to read!
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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What Causes Faint Heart Beats And Trembling Legs?

Brief Answer: Cigaretttes of course Detailed Answer: Well there are a few obvious things: the cigarettes are likely to be involved. Nicotine has several effects that fit with this. Mildest is that it can be a bit of a diuretic and lower fluids so, a bit of water or gatorade or pedialyte or oral rehydration fluid (and NOT coffee and NOT alcohol.. both also diuretics that really add up with cigarettes) can make you feel better. Smoking at night is worse.. fire hazard and more effect of a diuretic. You should get a simple EKG and mild examination neither of which is going to be very expensive and WILL be very helpful even if nothing abnormal is found (likely.... the diuretic effect, the heart effect of cigarettes that most commonly causes these symptoms doesn't cause immediate heart damage... just effects on fluid, cardiovascular tone, lung tone, slight drop in oxygenation, slight drop in ability to exercise... all of which would feel exactly like how you are feeling). Then, the possible bad things: asthma.. even very very slight lung inflammation can make you work harder to breath and affect the rhythm of breathing and acidity for the blood. Not much, not immediately hazardous, but you will feel it and it is a sign smoking is going to do bad bad things to you. Theoretically, you could be having heart trouble. It is not common especially if you are under age 45. EKG would pick up really bad things. Ok... Stop smoking. Data from the XXXXXXX Society of Addiction medicine (of which I am sitting the boards). First, motivation. Realizing, indeed visualizing the benefits of quitting (money, health, longevity, fitness, better sexual performance, etc.) and visualizing the consequences of Not quitting. Second, nicotine replacement. Chantix is the most effective medication for quitting but if someone is on a LOT of cigarettes (2 pack a day) I recommend using other replacement (patch, gum, even e-cig) I've got a lot more info on stopping smoking but would need more about when you began smoking, how much you smoke and what triggers you to smoke. and, it's a bit off the main topic and getting a bit long to read!