High Blood Pressure/PVC's

[Shery-S]

  I recently went in for a endoscopy since I had been complaining of a "full chest" feeling and also puffs of air coming from what I assumed was my somach or hiatel hernia.  When the surgeon looked at my hernia, he said it was not a large hiatal hernia and certainly not large enough to cause those kinds of problems.  I had already had a stress test the week before because my dr. wanted to make sure it wasn't my heart.  BUT...during the endoscopy, they hook you up to heart monitor.  Now the hiateal hernia wasn't trhe problem, but my heart monitor registered what the doc said were pvc's and that he wants me to wear a heart monitor for 24 hours to see what is wrong.  I am taking cardura for high blood pressure, only 1 mg.  The side effects I am aware of are that my hands and lower arms fall asleep at night easily compared to not using it and my head gets stuffed up.  My pressure is still pretty high (150/96), - could the cardura be causing these pvc's and if not, is this anything to worry about?  Obviously my doc doesn't think it is anything too dangerous, because they have  had a heart monitor on order for two weeks and when I called yesterday to find out when I will use it, they still don't have it and hope to get it "maybe" next week.  Is this something I should be having done sooner or is it ok to wait this long to wear this monitor?  I know you can't give me answers on all of it, but:
  Are pvc's dangerous?  If so, in what way?
  Could Cardura be causing them?
  Could stomach problems cause the puffs of air and full feeling?
  
  Thanks, Sherry

[CCF CARDIO MD APS]

Dear Sherry,
PVCs are premature ventricular contractions or early beats of the lower chamber of
the heart.  These extra beats as well as their 'cousin' PAC (premature atrial contraction)
beats are completely benign, are in no way dangerous, are fairly common and most do not
even know that they are occurring.  Your blood pressure medication, cardura, works in a way
to relax the blood vessels in your body, and is most likely not causing your PVCs,
which more than likely have been there for years without your knowing.  I am not a gastroenterologist
however the 'puffs of air' and fullness you feel could certainly be coming from your stomach, although
as your doctor did I to would have performed a stress test first to evaluate your heart.  
there is no need to concern yourself with the wait on the holter monitor, but should you develop any new
symptoms like shortness of breath, or lightheadedness you should seek re-evaluation and not wait for the
monitor.  Information provided in the heart forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only,
actual diagnosis and treatment can only be made by your physician(s).