My heart stumbles while lying down – do I need to worry?
Patients frequently experience a dysrhythmia with cardiac stumbling, especially when lying down, which is explained by the fact that the heart and pumping pump are easier to fill, which no longer has to be done against gravity. In principle, cardiac dysrhythmia is a common phenomenon that requires only limited therapy. Especially congenital disturbances of the conduction of stimuli in the atrium or in the transition from atrium to ventricle are harmless and are only treated in case of associated complaints of the patients.
The greater risk is associated with the occurrence of atrial fibrillation, which leads to disordered excitation of the atria and inadequate atrial contractions. This results in a significantly increased risk of blood clots forming in the atrium, which can enter the circulation via the ventricle and consequently into peripheral vessels, for example in the brain. This can occlude the vessel and thus cause a reduced supply in the corresponding area, which manifests itself in the brain as a stroke, for example. Consequently, possible complications of dysrhythmia usually pose a risk. Depending on the type of dysrhythmia, the risk profile of the patient should be assessed and, if necessary, prophylactic therapy should be initiated.
Heart stumbling while lying on the left side
Cardiac arrhythmias are often perceived at rest, although a faster heartbeat is more likely to cause a heart stutter than a slower one. This is mainly due to the fact that we have a fast heartbeat when we are in motion or otherwise busy, we are distracted and don’t think so much about what our heart is doing right now. In addition, dropouts or stumbles are more noticeable when the pulse is slow because there are fewer beats per time unit.Rhythm disturbances can, however, be very position-dependent, i.e. only occur when lying on one side.
Since the heart lies more on the left side of the chest, it is pressed against the wall of the chest when lying on the left side. Because the thorax is more densely and sensitively innervated, we feel the heartbeat much more than when standing. This means that not only the normal heartbeat is perceived more often, but also the extrasystoles, which would not be noticed at all when standing.
In addition, the lying position leads to a stronger heartbeat. The blood does not have to be pumped back to the heart against gravity, which makes the heart fill up more easily and with more blood. This not only makes the heartbeat stronger and more palpable, but also makes the extrasystoles more noticeable.
