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Heart arrhythmia and birth control pills

Heart arrhythmia and birth control pills

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!
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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.
4 Comments
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Avatar_n_tn
life will be more beautiful if you work hard and be a good person!
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Avatar_f_tn
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!
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Avatar_n_tn
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.
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