Sudden heart stabbing
September 9, 2016 | 25,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ralf Berg
Hello, I've been lying in bed for 1 hour and have been experiencing heart palpitations. I researched online and found out that it could also be coming from my back. I haven't slept from yesterday to today. I suffer from Hashimoto's disease. Last night, I couldn't sleep due to menstrual cramps. I have endometriosis and will likely have surgery in November. I also have severe PMS, so I have to take Ibuprofen for five days. I smoke about ten cigarettes a day. I am still a passionate coffee drinker. I am otherwise very active and exercise for 2 hours every day. Today, I had to ride the train for 5 hours, and when I lay flat in bed an hour ago, the stabbing pain in my chest started. Is there anything I can do to minimize the stabbing sensation? I am really tired and afraid to fall asleep now. Could this heart palpitation also be caused by lack of sleep?
Good evening,
stabbing heart pain, as you have already found out, rarely comes from the heart itself but can radiate from the back or come from heart injuries. There is no reason why you shouldn't dare to fall asleep now. I am not aware of any connection that lack of sleep leads to heart pain. However, excitement and fear can indeed lead to heart tightness and heart sensations through psychosomatic ways.
My advice for tonight:
Find a sleeping position in which you do not experience heart pain. (Is lying on your stomach possible? Can you try lying on your side or raising the headboard? You will have to experiment with this. Sometimes a hot water bottle on your back can also help).
If you have tablets for soft tissue and back pain such as Ibuprofen, Paracetamol at home, you can take 1-2 tablets so that you can fall asleep. You are already familiar with Ibuprofen from PMS.
With best regards, R. C. Berg
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