The short explanation
Waking suddenly at night with intense fear, a pounding heart and sweating can be a night-time panic attack. These happen during sleep, often without any dream, and usually settle within minutes. They are frightening but are known to happen even in people who feel calm during the day. At your age, though, it is important that a doctor first checks for physical causes, because similar symptoms can come from heart rhythm problems, low blood sugar in people with diabetes, thyroid problems, breathing pauses in sleep, or menopausal night sweats. Once physical causes are ruled out, panic attacks respond well to talking therapy.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Doctors will ask how often it happens, how long it lasts, whether there is chest pain or breathlessness, and whether you snore or stop breathing in sleep.
- Your current medicines, blood pressure, sugar control and any recent stress are relevant.
- Hot flushes and night sweats around and after menopause can feel similar and can wake you with a racing heart.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot tell whether your night episodes are panic attacks or a physical problem. A doctor needs to examine you and may suggest tests such as an ECG or blood sugar checks.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Could these night episodes be panic attacks, or should my heart be checked?
- Should I be tested for sleep apnoea, thyroid or sugar levels?
- Could menopause be causing this?
- What can I do when I wake like this?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you wake with chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to the arm or jaw, severe breathlessness or fainting.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a few days to have your heart and other physical causes checked.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Book a routine follow-up to discuss therapy if physical causes are ruled out.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Panic disorder MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Anxiety MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Insomnia MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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