Heart stumbling while lying on the right side
If the rhythm disturbances are perceived mainly when lying on the right side, this has almost the same cause as when lying on the left side. Again, it is important that extrasystoles are more noticeable at rest, when the pulse is slow, and that we pay more attention to them than when we are distracted and busy. When lying down, the heart fills up with blood more because the venous return flow to the heart is easier than when the blood has to be sucked against gravity.
The heartbeat and thus also the extrasystoles are perceived more strongly and thus more easily. Since the heart does not lie in the thorax in the same way for everyone, it is possible that when lying on the right side, the heart is pressed more strongly against the wall of the thorax than when lying on the left side. Since the thorax is very well innervated, the extrasystoles are perceived particularly or exclusively in this position and not in any other.
Heart stumbling while lying on the left side and sitting
Here too, extrasystoles are more noticeable in physical rest and with a slow pulse, and greater attention is paid to them, especially if the rhythm disturbances occur more frequently and those affected are sensitized to them. If you are just waiting for the heart to start stumbling, every drop-out or double beat will be noticed. In a sitting position, especially when bending forward, the heart is pressed against the chest wall (thoracic wall). Because the thorax is well traversed by nerves, we feel heartbeats and heart stumbles particularly clearly or only perceive them when they occur.
Heart stumbling gets better when lying down
The heart stumbling as a symptom of cardiac arrhythmia can improve or flatten out when lying down and thus under physical rest, which can have various causes. If the body is brought into a lying position, whether during the day relaxed on the sofa or in the evening or at night to sleep, the circulation comes to rest and relaxation increases. Not only for the body, but also for the psyche.
Stress as a major risk factor for cardiac arrhythmia and heart stumbling is (temporarily) reduced, which can certainly lead to a better heart stumbling. Another aspect is that in a lying position more blood is available in the direct circulation of the body than when sitting, standing or walking. In a standing position, a certain percentage of blood sinks into the peripheral veins, i.e., as is often said in the vernacular: “the blood sinks into the legs”.
This blood then “disappears” in the direct circulation, which the heart tries to compensate for by beating faster. This extra work of the heart can, in turn, provoke heart stumbling. A lying position stabilizes the circulation, more blood is available to circulate, the heart beats slower and the stumbling can improve.
