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What Causes Palpitations At Night?

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Posted on Mon, 28 Jul 2014
Question: I'm an 85 yr old health person but I do suffer from palpitations particularly at night I take sotolol 80mg at night and 40mg in the mornings, Of recent date I've read that selenium helps so am using sunflower seed daily to suply any lack and this seems to have reduced the severity, also I read that dehydration can be a cause so I've increased my water intake and this has helped quite significantly. what else can I do to eliminate this problem?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (33 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
This is arrythmia1

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about this arrhythmia that you have. Though your doctor uses palpitations to relate this to you, the problem is actually with the rhythm of the heart as the beats are irregular. This leads to the feeling of palpitations. Your drug, sotalol is used principally for this and not the palpitations.

Arrhythmia is not caused by electrolytes/water imbalance/etc. If this were these, a solution would have been a lot easier. However, it is an inherent problem to the heart conduction pathways and controlling it is the best known approach as of date.

True to say some conditions can aggravate this condition like stress, dehydration, sleep deprivation, etc. Leading a health life is the best way to minimize aggravations. I cannot talk about eliminating the problem as this is unlikely and not feasible right now given the prevailing evidence.

In all, stay physically active, eat healthy and follow up with your medications. Tis will prevent aggravation and symptoms exacerbation. This condition can be controlled but not eliminated.

I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (13 hours later)
I've been told before that this is caused by an errant pathway and that there is no hope of reversing this problem, but from my own experience, I know this will be classified as anecdotal, I've put into practice some lifestyle changes and some dietary changes and in each instant there has been a noticeable improvement is this not an indicator of reversal of the problem?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (21 hours later)
Brief Answer:
It is not a reversal, please!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this follow up precision.

For true, these changes have made you to feel better. I encourage you to keep up with them. In the goal of reversing this condition, it is not the right thinking. If they were reversible by these changes, you would be able to stop these life style changes and never feel these arrhythmias again. This is not the case.

I will recommend that you continue these lifestyle changes. They would be very helpful but change the notion that they would cause a complete reversal. They help prevent exacerbation of symptoms related to this condition and not a complete reversal.

I hope this is clear and sheds more light on your understanding . Feel free to ask for precisions if need be.
I wish you well.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Ivo Ditah

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 3984 Questions

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What Causes Palpitations At Night?

Brief Answer: This is arrythmia1 Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about this arrhythmia that you have. Though your doctor uses palpitations to relate this to you, the problem is actually with the rhythm of the heart as the beats are irregular. This leads to the feeling of palpitations. Your drug, sotalol is used principally for this and not the palpitations. Arrhythmia is not caused by electrolytes/water imbalance/etc. If this were these, a solution would have been a lot easier. However, it is an inherent problem to the heart conduction pathways and controlling it is the best known approach as of date. True to say some conditions can aggravate this condition like stress, dehydration, sleep deprivation, etc. Leading a health life is the best way to minimize aggravations. I cannot talk about eliminating the problem as this is unlikely and not feasible right now given the prevailing evidence. In all, stay physically active, eat healthy and follow up with your medications. Tis will prevent aggravation and symptoms exacerbation. This condition can be controlled but not eliminated. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.