•8 min read
Waking Up With a Racing Heart: Causes, Triggers, and Clinical Context
Jolting awake with a pounding, racing heart can reflect stress hormones, sleep apnea, alcohol, blood sugar shifts, or arrhythmias.
Anxiety — or a Heart Rhythm Problem? Get a Real Answer
Racing heart, chest tightness, a wave of fear — anxiety and heart rhythm disorders like SVT can feel identical, and research shows the heart condition is often labeled as anxiety for years1. Find out what's really going on with the clinical-grade Zio® patch, reviewed by a licensed physician.
Patients using Zio patch heart monitors
Using the same Zio® patch technology trusted by cardiologists nationwide — and by 1M+ patients like you.
When anxiety is the symptom — not the diagnosis
SVT is a heart rhythm condition that makes the heart suddenly race. An episode can feel exactly like a panic attack — pounding heart, tight chest, a wave of fear. Research shows the two are confused surprisingly often.
54%
of missed SVT cases were blamed on panic, anxiety, or stress1
67%
of patients with confirmed SVT met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for panic disorder1
3+ yrs
the typical wait before patients got the right diagnosis1
2× women
female patients were twice as likely as male patients to be told it was anxiety1
A common condition, commonly missed
More than half a million Americans live with SVT.2 3 Yet in a well-known study, doctors initially missed it in over half of patients — and when they missed it, they usually called it panic, anxiety, or stress.1
Why a normal EKG doesn't settle it
SVT episodes start and stop without warning. Between episodes, the heart usually beats normally — so a quick EKG at the doctor's office, which records only about 10 seconds, often shows nothing.
Good news, either way
SVT is rarely dangerous and is very treatable — treatment resolved symptoms for 86% of patients in the same study.1 And anxiety is real and treatable too. A monitor can record your heart while symptoms are happening, so you and your doctor know for sure.
References
- Lessmeier TJ, Gamperling D, Johnson-Liddon V, et al. Unrecognized paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia: potential for misdiagnosis as panic disorder. Arch Intern Med. 1997;157(5):537–543. PubMed
- Orejarena LA, Vidaillet H Jr, DeStefano F, et al. Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in the general population. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1998;31(1):150–157. PubMed
- Page RL, Joglar JA, Caldwell MA, et al. 2015 ACC/AHA/HRS guideline for the management of adult patients with supraventricular tachycardia. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016;67(13):e27–e115. PubMed
This page summarizes published research for educational purposes and is not a diagnosis. Only a clinician reviewing your recorded heart rhythm can determine whether your symptoms are cardiac in origin.
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Wear the comfortable patch for up to 14 days while living your normal life, then mail it back. A physician reviews your data and provides clear explanations.
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$99
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Zio® monitor shipped to your home
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