19-06-2025
Nighttime symptoms that are big red flags for your heart, liver and kidneys
Do you wake up often at night to urinate, struggle to breathe while lying down, or wake up sweating for no clear reason? These could be signs of more than just poor sleep -- they might point to serious problems with your heart, kidneys, or say nighttime symptoms are often ignored, but they can be early red flags for heart failure, blocked arteries, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and even liver frequent night urination could mean heart or kidney trouble
Getting up often at night to urinate, called nocturia, is more than just annoying. It can be an early sign of heart failure or kidney disease."During the day, in heart failure, the body holds on to fluid, especially in the legs. At night, when you lie down, this fluid moves back into the bloodstream and is filtered by the kidneys, making you urinate more. In kidney disease, the kidneys lose their ability to concentrate urine, so you make more urine both day and night, but nighttime urination is usually more noticeable and disturbing," Dr. Vikram B Kolhari, senior cardiologist at Apollo nighttime urination is chronic and comes with swelling in the legs, fatigue, or shortness of breath, it's time to see a trouble and sweating at night? Don't ignore itBreathlessness while lying down or suddenly waking due to shortness of breath can be warning signs.
Getting up often at night to urinate, called nocturia, is an early sign of heart failure or kidney disease. ()
'Shortness of breath at night can mean your heart isn't pumping blood well, causing fluid to build up in the lungs,' says Dr. signs include: night sweats caused by your heart working extra hard due to blocked arteries, chest discomfort or pain due to pressure, tightness, or squeezing, especially if it wakes you up or comes with breathlessness, and sleep apnea involving disrupted breathing during sleep can be linked to heart problems and high blood of restful sleep can itself increase blood pressure and strain the heart over or restless legs linked to liver issuesMany people with liver problems notice their sleep quality gets worse.'Most people with liver disease find their sleep is affected. You might get insomnia or feel un-refreshed after sleep,' says Dr. Shalini Bhutta, consultant physician at Neotia Mediplus OPD & Diagnostics may take longer to fall asleep, or wake up often. Some even report restless legs, an urge to move the legs, especially at nigh, which may be linked to liver function.
Shortness of breath at night can mean your heart isn't pumping blood well. ()
Not every sleep issue means disease, but some symptoms shouldn't be ignored.'Frequent sleep disturbances, poor sleep quality, breathing problems, chest pain, or persistent anxiety at night are signs to consult a doctor,' says Dr. sleep–heart connection: Why sleep apnea is dangerousObstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is more than loud snoring or tiredness. It can put serious pressure on your heart. It is linked to high blood pressure, heart rhythm issues, and even heart attacks, says Dr. with OSA often stop breathing multiple times during the night, which lowers oxygen and increases stress on the heart.
People with OSA often stop breathing multiple times during the night, which lowers oxygen and increases stress on the heart. ()
advertisementOver time, this can lead to heart failure, stroke, and metabolic problems like diabetes and to see a doctorIf you notice any of these nighttime symptoms:Waking up often to urinateFeeling breathless while lying downWaking up with chest pain or sweatingInsomnia or restless legsConstant poor sleep or fatigueThese could be your body's way of warning you about your heart, liver, or kidneys.
