Heart arrhythmia and birth control pills

[fearfactor]

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!

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

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.

[zangjw2004]

life will be more beautiful if you work hard and be a good person!

[fearfactor]

Thank you!  I'm going to try to get past this exercise thing.  I woke up in the middle of the night last night having a panic attack and I haven't had that happen in a long time.  I will NEVER take another pill of the Yasmin again because that's the only thing that's changed from last week.  I have many, many more palps and just feel awful.  I'm going to my doctor Friday and my cardiologist Monday.  I swear, I get SO sick of palpitations.  If only they could stop...but I guess that is wishful thinking.

Thanks for the encouragement!

[upbeat63]

The curious thing about PVCs is that they can come on quickly, and they can go away just as quickly. Then they can turn around and come right back again.

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.