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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Many Different Arrhythmias daily
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests
Many Different Arrhythmias daily
by Quality Woman, Mar 31, 2007 12:00AM
I am 58 years old female and have a three generation (women on maternal side) history of serious heart disease in my family. Although I did everything to avoid it (healthy eating, lifestyle, exercise, etc.), I got it 20 years earlier than any other relative.
I had Triple By-Pass in April, 2001 and was hospitalized for atrial fibrillation and tachycardia in June, 2001 and November 2002. I then learned my left atrial is enlarged.
I just discovered (via a 30 day EKG monitor) that I am having PAC triplets, supra ventricular ectopy, ventricular ectopy, ventricular triplets, ventricular couplets, sudden rate increase (55-98), sinus bradycardia and SVPB. I am having all of them on a daily basis for about 5 weeks now. They are very uncomfortable and I am concerned about sudden death. I read that pvc triplets w/increased heart rate often results in sudden death. I have also read that anti-rhythmics are not effective on pvcs. Can you please suggest treatment options, physical restrictions, risks and prognosis. My liver enzymes are elevated (62) this month. I never drink alcohol, have a long history of exercising and eat extremely healthy. My cholesterol is 130's. My resting heart rate is around 50..
I have worked out (treadmill 30 min. @ 3.2 mph w/1.5 incline, 90 sit-ups, light (7.5 lbs) weight training) in a gym until two weeks ago to keep my heart strong. I am now afraid to go back. Can I work out and if so, should I do an easier work-out?
I am on Sotalol, 80 mg., BID, Zetia, 10 mg., OD, Warfarin Sodium, 5 mg., OD, 5x/wk. & 7.5 mg. OD 2x/wk., Caduet, 5mg/20mg, OD, Niaspan, 500mg., OD, Folic Acid, 1 mg, OD, Sertraline Hcl, 50 mg., OD, Fexofenadine Hcl, 180 mg., OD, Co-Enzyme Q10, 120mg, OD and Calcium w/D, 500mg., OD.
Thank you sooo much for your attention.
I had Triple By-Pass in April, 2001 and was hospitalized for atrial fibrillation and tachycardia in June, 2001 and November 2002. I then learned my left atrial is enlarged.
I just discovered (via a 30 day EKG monitor) that I am having PAC triplets, supra ventricular ectopy, ventricular ectopy, ventricular triplets, ventricular couplets, sudden rate increase (55-98), sinus bradycardia and SVPB. I am having all of them on a daily basis for about 5 weeks now. They are very uncomfortable and I am concerned about sudden death. I read that pvc triplets w/increased heart rate often results in sudden death. I have also read that anti-rhythmics are not effective on pvcs. Can you please suggest treatment options, physical restrictions, risks and prognosis. My liver enzymes are elevated (62) this month. I never drink alcohol, have a long history of exercising and eat extremely healthy. My cholesterol is 130's. My resting heart rate is around 50..
I have worked out (treadmill 30 min. @ 3.2 mph w/1.5 incline, 90 sit-ups, light (7.5 lbs) weight training) in a gym until two weeks ago to keep my heart strong. I am now afraid to go back. Can I work out and if so, should I do an easier work-out?
I am on Sotalol, 80 mg., BID, Zetia, 10 mg., OD, Warfarin Sodium, 5 mg., OD, 5x/wk. & 7.5 mg. OD 2x/wk., Caduet, 5mg/20mg, OD, Niaspan, 500mg., OD, Folic Acid, 1 mg, OD, Sertraline Hcl, 50 mg., OD, Fexofenadine Hcl, 180 mg., OD, Co-Enzyme Q10, 120mg, OD and Calcium w/D, 500mg., OD.
Thank you sooo much for your attention.
Doctor's Answer
by Forum-M.D.-MJM, Mar 31, 2007 12:00AM
Hello,
Family history is a difficult risk factor to change. I am sorry to hear about your health problems.
I read that pvc triplets w/increased heart rate often results in sudden death.
PVCs in people with coronary artery disease and/or structural heart disease have an increased risk of cardiovascular events. You have to be careful with this statement though. Hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and other risk factors usually are associated with a higher risk -- the difference is that you feel these events and that makes you worry about them more. I think there is too much emphasis put on this risk and it causes much undo worrying and stress.
I have also read that antiarrhythmics are not effective on pvcs.
They can help, make it worse, or have no effect. The only way to know is trying. In general, we only use antiarrhythmic meds if beta blockers don't help and you have lots of symptoms from them.
Can you please suggest treatment options, physical restrictions, risks and prognosis?
I don't think this significantly affects your prognosis. There is a slight increased risk of cardiovascular events, but like family history, this isn't a risk factor we can change. I would focus on changing modifiable risk factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and tobacco. I am now afraid to go back. Can I work out and if so, should I do an easier work-out?
Unless if you feel exercising, I would only refrain from strenuous exercise, but please leave this to the advice of your treating physician since they have more information about you. It might help your confidence to ask your doctor about cardiac rehab -- a monitored exercise regimen to help you build confidence in your safety.
I hope this helps and thanks for posting.
Family history is a difficult risk factor to change. I am sorry to hear about your health problems.
I read that pvc triplets w/increased heart rate often results in sudden death.
PVCs in people with coronary artery disease and/or structural heart disease have an increased risk of cardiovascular events. You have to be careful with this statement though. Hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and other risk factors usually are associated with a higher risk -- the difference is that you feel these events and that makes you worry about them more. I think there is too much emphasis put on this risk and it causes much undo worrying and stress.
I have also read that antiarrhythmics are not effective on pvcs.
They can help, make it worse, or have no effect. The only way to know is trying. In general, we only use antiarrhythmic meds if beta blockers don't help and you have lots of symptoms from them.
Can you please suggest treatment options, physical restrictions, risks and prognosis?
I don't think this significantly affects your prognosis. There is a slight increased risk of cardiovascular events, but like family history, this isn't a risk factor we can change. I would focus on changing modifiable risk factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and tobacco. I am now afraid to go back. Can I work out and if so, should I do an easier work-out?
Unless if you feel exercising, I would only refrain from strenuous exercise, but please leave this to the advice of your treating physician since they have more information about you. It might help your confidence to ask your doctor about cardiac rehab -- a monitored exercise regimen to help you build confidence in your safety.
I hope this helps and thanks for posting.
My story is similar so I won't bother you with the details but I do have chronic PVC which keep my ejection fraction in the 20's and have recorded about 700 episodes of ventricular tachycardia on my ICD. My exercise routine was degraded from a 8 minute mile run down to a moderate walk. That's almost as troublesome as the abnormal rhythms.
I have kept a daily log for the past 15 months and have concluded most of my issues are related to low blood sugar coupled with another event such as excess exercise, coffee, large meals, alcohol or stress. It's not just one event that causes the issue but blood sugars are the root cause (the heart prefers high quality glycogen for fuel).
I have now moved from a low carb diet to a hi quality carb (fruits, veg, whole grain, legumes) eating plan and eat frequently to keep blood sugars at a normal level. I also take mineral supplements and eat plenty of bananas expecially before exercise. Coffee and alcohol are in moderation.
My VT's ( I feel them every time) and PVC's have dramatically declined. I need more time to evaluate my changes but I think I am on the right track. Avoid anything made with sugar and refined flours. Hi fructose syrups and trans fat should be zero.
Hope that helps.
This site does rock. This is my first time on it and I am touched by the support and appreciative of the information.
Thank you for sharing your experience with sugar and arrhythmias and I am going to try it out each way and see.
I noticed I am craving magnesium for the past few weeks (spinach, avocados, etc.) and just read magnesium may be helpful. I believe it may have decreased the frequency of the arrhythmias.
Thank you :)
Quality Woman