Why Your Heart Races at Night: 10 Hidden Sleep Disruptors You Must Know

Do you wear a smart band or watch while sleeping? If yes, you’ve probably noticed something intriguing—your heart rate. It’s more than just a number. A steady nighttime BPM (beats per minute) is a key marker of good health. But what if your heart is racing while you're in deep slumber? Your heart should slow down during sleep to aid recovery and maintain hormonal balance. A consistently elevated BPM can be a warning signal, and understanding the causes is the first step toward fixing it. Below are 10 reasons your heart rate might spike during sleep—and what you can do about it.

1. Room Temperature or Hot Baths Before Bed

A warm environment or a hot shower right before bed can raise your core body temperature. This leads to vasodilation, where blood vessels expand to release excess heat, forcing the heart to pump harder and faster. As your heart rate climbs, deep sleep becomes elusive.

Solution: Let your body cool down post-bath before hitting the sheets. Use breathable bedding and try the NadaUp ergonomic sleep mattress, which features Mammoth Medical Grade™ foam that enhances thermoregulation by cooling the body 69% faster than conventional memory foam (Source: EN NadaUp - Every night….)

2. Dehydration

When you're dehydrated, your plasma volume decreases. This makes your blood thicker and forces your heart to work harder to circulate it—resulting in elevated BPM.

Solution: Drink water regularly throughout the day. NadaUp’s clinically tested mattress encourages longer, deeper rest that helps the body rehydrate and repair efficiently overnight (Source: EN NadaUp - Every night….)

3. Smoking or Vaping

Nicotine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, increasing heart rate and blood pressure. Over time, it constricts blood vessels, increases stroke risk, and disrupts sleep patterns.

Tip: If you’re trying to quit, chew on salt-soaked dry ginger, a natural remedy. As a health-conscious medical mattress manufacturer, NadaUp urges you to avoid smoking to protect not just your lungs, but your heart and sleep quality.

4. Medications That Alter Metabolic Rate

Certain drugs like thyroid hormone replacements, decongestants, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can raise your metabolic rate. This naturally results in a higher BPM, especially during REM cycles when the brain is active.

Solution: Speak with your doctor about nighttime symptoms. Pair medication management with an orthopedic medical mattress like NadaUp’s to minimize physical stress and support restorative sleep.

5. Fever and Illness

A fever elevates body temperature and accelerates heart rate as the immune system works overtime. The body’s energy shifts from rest and repair to defense mode, reducing sleep quality.

Solution: Use a high-performance mattress that maintains an ideal sleep temperature and supports immune recovery through deep rest (Source: EN NadaUp - Every night….)

6. Caffeine Intake in the Evening

Caffeine blocks adenosine, the sleep-promoting neurotransmitter, and boosts adrenaline — your "fight or flight" hormone. This increases the time between heartbeats and leads to restlessness.

Solution: Cut off caffeine by mid-afternoon. Support the adenosine cycle with a scientifically proven sleep mattress that promotes faster sleep onset (29%) and more efficient sleep (7%) (Source: EN NadaUp - Every night….)

7. Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol disrupts your autonomic nervous system (ANS). It initially sedates you but later causes vasodilation, which speeds up the heart rate. It also hijacks the liver’s energy for detoxification rather than hormone regulation or immune support.

Tip: NadaUp recommends eliminating alcohol for better sleep. Sleep on a medical-grade mattress that supports natural detox and hormonal balance through restorative rest.

8. Heavy or Spicy Meals Late at Night

Digesting large or spicy meals raises blood pressure and temperature. Your gut demands extra blood flow, diverting it from other repair processes like cell regeneration and immune activity.

Solution: Try intermittent fasting or eat your last meal 6 hours before sleep. NadaUp supports these rhythms by offering a back pain relief mattress that enhances rest even on an empty stomach (Source: EN NadaUp - Every night….)

9. Cardio Exercise in the Evening

Exercise is healthy, but doing it too late can raise core temperature, elevate adrenaline, and dehydrate the body — spiking your heart rate at the exact time it should be slowing down.

Solution: Shift workouts to mornings or early afternoons. Let your advanced posture support mattress, like NadaUp’s regulate temperature and minimize stress on joints during sleep.

10. Chronic Stress

Stress raises cortisol, weakens vagal tone, and disrupts the parasympathetic nervous system. The result? Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) and a faster heart rate at night.

NadaUp mattresses promote deep sleep, reduced cortisol, and emotional balance thanks to their ergonomic design and MHRA-approved materials (Source: EN NadaUp - Every night….)

How NadaUp Mattresses Calm Your Heart While You Sleep

The NadaUp ergonomic mattress is more than a sleep surface—it's a scientifically supported health investment. Developed using Mammoth Medical Grade™ foam, it:

  • Reduces stress and cortisol by up to 30%

  • Promotes optimal sleep temperature with 69% faster cooling

  • Provides 60% better pressure relief, reducing tension in the body

  • Supports deep sleep, improving mental clarity and emotional balance

  • Is endorsed by MHRA, NICE, ACPOHE, and CSP for clinical-grade back and posture support

With NadaUp, you’re not just buying comfort—you’re embracing a path toward a slower, healthier heartbeat and better sleep quality.

Final Thoughts

A racing heart at night is your body trying to communicate. It could be the caffeine, the stress, or even the wrong mattress. But now that you understand the 10 key disruptors, you have the power to take control.

Start with small changes—hydrate, move meals earlier, reduce stress—and complement your routine with a pain relief mattress designed for recovery and heart health.

Because at NadaUp, every heartbeat—and every night—matters.