I sometimes wake up with my heart pounding so fast and so hard that it worries me. It usually takes about an hour before my heart rate returns to normal.

Could this be a side effect of sleep apnea? When this happens, I don't feel anxious or recall any bad dreams. I don't recall any feelings or dreams of suffocation. It's the pounding of my heart that makes me anxious.

I don't have a C-Pap, but was diagnosed with mild obstructive sleep apnea. The study showed that I had frequent awakenings that were all breathing-related. I only got 5.5 hours of sleep at the time of my last study, but this past year I normally wake up after 3 or 4 hours. My oxygen levels weren't low enough for my insurance to qualify me for a C-PAP, but I'm going to try again with another sleep study. I am exhausted more days than not, and fall asleep frequently at inappropriate times.

Thanks for your help.