860 PVC'S

I have just got my holtor monitor results. It showed 860 PVC"S One doctor was not too worried about this report and another doctor has reffered me to a cardiologist. One says they are dangerous and one doctor does not seem to think so in my case. Yet both agree 860 PVC's is an awful lot. I am confused on who to believe? They said that despite the PVC"S my heart maintained a regular rythm. Is PVC"s always the result of some sort of heart problem or can something else be causing them? Also can they suddenly become life threatening? I am anxious for an answer as it is several days until my cardiologist appointment and I am worried. Any info on this question would be appreciated.
Carol
PS: what are SVT's ?

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

When PVCs occur in healthy people they are called benign. Benign PVCS, even when frequent, are usually not dangerous and do not usually turn into a more serious arrhythmia. However, it is probably worthwhile to make sure that you do not have any underlying heart disease. SVTs refer to supraventricular tachycardia, a fast heart rate due to the upper chambers of the heart.

[shannon]

Hi -- I'm curious to know in what period of time these PVCs occurred.  I ask because I had a recent Holter monitor and I have 3,831 PVCs in a 23-hour period, so I'm trying to figure out if this is a big deal.

shannon

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

Really, the number of PVCs is not important, as long as there is no underlying heart disease.

[shannon]

Well, the number is only important to the patient whose life is disrupted, because it can represent the degree of disruption.  I'm very fortunate to have had successful mitral and PFO repairs.  Now, with a structurally and functionally "normal" heart, I am comfortable with the knowledge that my PVCs are truly benign.

For what it's worth, my experience in talking with PVC sufferers is that it takes time to accept that something as disruptive and frightening as PVCs can also be meaningless in terms of their cardiac health. Sometimes comparative numbers help in that process.

Hope this doesn't sound arrogant or rude.  I know that many docs don't take PVCs too seriously -- there are too many real problems to worry about -- but still, people have to deal with the problem every day.

Shannon

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

You misunderstood my comment. The number of PVCs has nothing to do with their capacity to cause physical harm. I think doctors in general are aware that some patients are really bothered by PVCs. However, the entire process of the medical work-up can sometimes feed into the anxiety and worry that PVCs cause, creating a vicious cycle. Many of these patients would feel much better if they could just be reassured that the PVCs are not life-threatening.

[Carol]

Shannon,
Thanks for writing in response to my question. It is a real problem for people to deal with even when you are told they are benign. I had to suffer 6 days with feeling as if my heart were beating in my throat. I think the most PVCs happened between 2pm and 6 pm. for me. I am not sure if mine is benign yet or not but I am hopeful. You had alot of PVC's yourself, were any of them back to back? At what point did they tell you they were nothing to worry about?   Carol

[shannon]

Carol, I'd be happy to answer any of your questions, from a patient's point of view anyway.  My email is ***@****.  Please feel free to write to me directly.

Actually I did understand the doctor's comment about numbers.  I was just trying to make a different point...

shannon

[Carol]

I wet to y cardiologist appt. today and he did not have a conclusive answer to why I had the PVC'S but the echocardiogram showed that the top part of my heart at the atrium was a little swollen. I am 7 weeks post-partum and he thinks that the bit of swelling might be related to the extra blood volume that I had during the pregnancy. He says he would not do anything to treat it. No medicines etc. He did say that I should stop smoking (I already know that and plan on it) Doctor have you heard of this?
And in your opinion, for someone with some atrium puffiness is the outlook good? Is it common? Does it go away? Is he on cue about the pregnancy aspect or can other things cause this too? Thank you. Carol

[debbie]

This is to Shannon and Carol

I have been having frequent skipped heartbeats that started 5 months after the birth of my baby and have been going on now almost 3 years.
What made me respond to your posts is the fact that I too have had all the tests and i have in excess of about 3000 skipped hearbeats in a 24 hour period.  my ekg was a little abnormal twice (I had to take it 2 times).    The cardiologist told me my heart was strong and that the ekg might just be doing a false positive.  I also had a visual echo while doing the stress test and that looked perfect, except you could actually see the extra heart beats, and there were alot.  Still the cardio dr daid they were unimportant, so here I am 6 months later, still experiencing just as many, and trying to deal with it, it is very hard
I just had to comment about the rate of pvc's, bedause I havent heard of that many people having as many as me.  So Carol and Shannon, I know how you feel.  Debbie