6 Nighttime Atrial Fibrillation Symptoms: What Helps?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon Nighttime SymptomsReasons AFib Happens at NightCo-Occurring Sleep Conditions in AFibGetting Better SleepWhen to Call 911 or Go to the HospitalNext in Atrial Fibrillation GuideHow Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Is Treated

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Common Nighttime Symptoms

Reasons AFib Happens at Night

Co-Occurring Sleep Conditions in AFib

Getting Better Sleep

When to Call 911 or Go to the Hospital

Next in Atrial Fibrillation Guide

Atrial fibrillation, sometimes called AFib or AF, is the most common type ofheart arrhythmia(abnormal heart rhythm). AFib causes the upper chambers of your heart to beat irregularly. AFib can increase your risk of severe problems likeheart attackorstroke.

Symptoms of AFib can make you feel tired, dizzy, or like you will faint. However, when symptoms occur during sleep, they may not feel the same as those you have during the day. Factors that only occur at night, such as constant waking, can trigger more symptoms.

This article describes AFib symptoms during sleep, the reasons they occur, and ways to improve your sleep with AFib.

Atrial Fibrillation

Common Atrial Fibrillation Symptoms at Night

Atrial fibrillation symptomsat night can differ from AFib symptoms during the day. Nighttime symptoms can feel differently because you’re at rest and lying down. They can also occur more often at night due to factors that impact your sleep.

Frequent Symptoms

Frequent nighttime AFib symptoms include the following:

There are several reasons why AFib can occur at night. Typically, they involve changes that exert more stress on your heart or disrupt your natural sleep pattern and include:

How to Improve Your Sleep Habits

Several sleep conditions can occur in people with AFib. These conditions typically cause poor sleep quality, which can increase the prevalence and severity of AFib symptoms.

Sleep Conditions

AFib is linked to the following co-occurring sleep conditions:

Complications of AFib

When undetected or untreated, AFib can lead to serious complications such as the following:

How Treatment Improves Atrial Fibrillation Life Expectancy

How to Get Better Sleep With Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation increases your risk ofstrokeandheart attackat any time. Do not try to determine whether symptoms such aschest painare severe.Call 911 or go to the hospitalif you have any of these symptoms, which could be warning signs of the following conditions:

Heart attack warning signs:

Stroke warning signs(usually occur suddenly):

First Aid Instructions for 10 Medical Emergencies

Summary

Atrial fibrillation, sometimes called AFib or AF, is a type of heart arrhythmia. While it can occur at any time of day, A-fib symptoms at night can sometimes feel more constant or intense. They can also prevent you from getting the amount and type of sleep you need to remain healthy with AFib.

Treating the source of nighttime AFib symptoms can improve your sleep quality. This can involve treating a sleep disorder or other source of problem sleep. While most AFib episodes are harmless, the problem can increase your heart attack and stroke risk. Knowing the signs of these problems and when to call 911 could save your life.

13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.What is atrial fibrillation?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Atrial fibrillation symptoms.Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School.How does sleep affect your heart rate?Sleep Foundation.Heart palpitations at night: diagnosis and treatment.Szymanski FM, Filipiak KJ, Karpinski G, Platek AE, Opolski G.Occurrence of poor sleep quality in atrial fibrillation patients according to the EHRA score.Acta Cardiol. 2014;69(3):291-296. doi:10.1080/ac.69.3.3027832Mirza M, Shen WK, Sofi A, et al.Frequent periodic leg movement during sleep is an unrecognized risk factor for progression of atrial fibrillation.PLoS One. 2013;8(10):e78359. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0078359Lee HH, Chen YC, Chen JJ, Lo SH, Guo YL, Hu HY.Insomnia and the risk of atrial fibrillation: a population-based cohort study.Acta Cardiol Sin. 2017;33(2):165-172. doi:10.6515/ACS20160611BNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Atrial fibrillation: living with.Sleep Foundation.Heart palpitations at night: diagnosis and treatment.Sleep Foundation.Mastering sleep hygiene: your path to quality sleep.Kaiser Permanente.Atrial fibrillation: care instructions.American Heart Association.What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?The Stroke Foundation.Stroke facts: warning signs.

13 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.What is atrial fibrillation?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Atrial fibrillation symptoms.Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School.How does sleep affect your heart rate?Sleep Foundation.Heart palpitations at night: diagnosis and treatment.Szymanski FM, Filipiak KJ, Karpinski G, Platek AE, Opolski G.Occurrence of poor sleep quality in atrial fibrillation patients according to the EHRA score.Acta Cardiol. 2014;69(3):291-296. doi:10.1080/ac.69.3.3027832Mirza M, Shen WK, Sofi A, et al.Frequent periodic leg movement during sleep is an unrecognized risk factor for progression of atrial fibrillation.PLoS One. 2013;8(10):e78359. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0078359Lee HH, Chen YC, Chen JJ, Lo SH, Guo YL, Hu HY.Insomnia and the risk of atrial fibrillation: a population-based cohort study.Acta Cardiol Sin. 2017;33(2):165-172. doi:10.6515/ACS20160611BNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Atrial fibrillation: living with.Sleep Foundation.Heart palpitations at night: diagnosis and treatment.Sleep Foundation.Mastering sleep hygiene: your path to quality sleep.Kaiser Permanente.Atrial fibrillation: care instructions.American Heart Association.What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?The Stroke Foundation.Stroke facts: warning signs.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Heart Association.What is atrial fibrillation?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Atrial fibrillation symptoms.Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School.How does sleep affect your heart rate?Sleep Foundation.Heart palpitations at night: diagnosis and treatment.Szymanski FM, Filipiak KJ, Karpinski G, Platek AE, Opolski G.Occurrence of poor sleep quality in atrial fibrillation patients according to the EHRA score.Acta Cardiol. 2014;69(3):291-296. doi:10.1080/ac.69.3.3027832Mirza M, Shen WK, Sofi A, et al.Frequent periodic leg movement during sleep is an unrecognized risk factor for progression of atrial fibrillation.PLoS One. 2013;8(10):e78359. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0078359Lee HH, Chen YC, Chen JJ, Lo SH, Guo YL, Hu HY.Insomnia and the risk of atrial fibrillation: a population-based cohort study.Acta Cardiol Sin. 2017;33(2):165-172. doi:10.6515/ACS20160611BNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Atrial fibrillation: living with.Sleep Foundation.Heart palpitations at night: diagnosis and treatment.Sleep Foundation.Mastering sleep hygiene: your path to quality sleep.Kaiser Permanente.Atrial fibrillation: care instructions.American Heart Association.What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?The Stroke Foundation.Stroke facts: warning signs.

American Heart Association.What is atrial fibrillation?

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Atrial fibrillation symptoms.

Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School.How does sleep affect your heart rate?

Sleep Foundation.Heart palpitations at night: diagnosis and treatment.

Szymanski FM, Filipiak KJ, Karpinski G, Platek AE, Opolski G.Occurrence of poor sleep quality in atrial fibrillation patients according to the EHRA score.Acta Cardiol. 2014;69(3):291-296. doi:10.1080/ac.69.3.3027832

Mirza M, Shen WK, Sofi A, et al.Frequent periodic leg movement during sleep is an unrecognized risk factor for progression of atrial fibrillation.PLoS One. 2013;8(10):e78359. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0078359

Lee HH, Chen YC, Chen JJ, Lo SH, Guo YL, Hu HY.Insomnia and the risk of atrial fibrillation: a population-based cohort study.Acta Cardiol Sin. 2017;33(2):165-172. doi:10.6515/ACS20160611B

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Atrial fibrillation: living with.

Sleep Foundation.Mastering sleep hygiene: your path to quality sleep.

Kaiser Permanente.Atrial fibrillation: care instructions.

American Heart Association.What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?

The Stroke Foundation.Stroke facts: warning signs.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?