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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Heart arrhythmia and birth control pills
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Heart arrhythmia and birth control pills
by fearfactor, Nov 01, 2005 12:00AM
I have been diagnosed with PACs and PVCs. I am a 33 year old woman, normal weight, healthy. I eat well but am afraid to exercise because it induces PVCs sometimes. I would like to ask about any hormonal connection re: arrhythmias. It seems that when I'm on the birth control pill my PACs and PVCs are less. I recently got on Yasmin, which has drospirenone in it - I hear that that is a progestin that can affect potassium levels. Since I started it two days ago, I have had about the same number of palpitations as normal. I am concerned that I shouldn't be taking this progestin with my history of arrhythmias. Do you have any information on Yasmin or BCPs in general and how they affect arrhythmias?
I do not have mitral valve prolapse but have some redundant mitral valve tissue. Is this a risk for SCD, as I have heard? I do not have any blockages or anything like that.
Thanks!
I do not have mitral valve prolapse but have some redundant mitral valve tissue. Is this a risk for SCD, as I have heard? I do not have any blockages or anything like that.
Thanks!
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-MJM, Nov 01, 2005 12:00AM
Hello fearfactor,
There is a connection between the frequency of PVCs/PACs and hormones, but I cannot specifically address that to drospirenone. My advice to you is to exercise and do your best to not worry about the PACs/PVCs. They do not increase your risk of sudden death.
Regarding the reducndant mitral tissue-- There is no appreciable increase in sudden cardiac death with this. Again, do not let this affect your life.
I hope this helps and thanks for posting.
There is a connection between the frequency of PVCs/PACs and hormones, but I cannot specifically address that to drospirenone. My advice to you is to exercise and do your best to not worry about the PACs/PVCs. They do not increase your risk of sudden death.
Regarding the reducndant mitral tissue-- There is no appreciable increase in sudden cardiac death with this. Again, do not let this affect your life.
I hope this helps and thanks for posting.
Thanks for the encouragement!
I used to watch, and count and hope. None of that helped. I do my best to ignore them. I think they have decreased from a high of about 24,000/day to maybe 20,000 or less.
I agree with anacyde, exercise, or even just some type of activity seems the best solution.