Incomplete Right bundle branch block and PVCs/PACs

[Bossa]

Thank you for taking my question(s). I am a healthy 27 year old male and I was diagnosed with IRBBB about 4 years ago during a routine physical, since then I have been experiencing PVCs and PACs every so often.  For the last eight months I am getting them daily, usually three to four times per day.  Could the IRBBB be causing these PVCs or is it simply my anxiety over my "heart condition"?  Should I be concerned over the increase in frequency of my PVCs and PACs?

I really don't want to take any medication if I don''t have to and I heard and read about Chinese herbs, with no side effects, that are very successful in supressing PVCs.  Has anyone else tried or even heard about that?  I

My doctor says my heart is fine.  I have had numerous EKGs and my heart is sound.  I also wore a holter, but nothing showed up on it over that 24hr span (murphy's law at it's best).  So I am relentless in curing these annoying, frightful and distracting PVCs, even of they are benign in nature.

Any suggestions?
  
This forum has been great help and I would like to thank all of you!

[share503]

A related discussion, incomplete RBBB was started.

[Bossa]

Dr RCJ:

Thank you so much for your dliligent response, it has done wonders for my anxiety levels.  This forum has been a great source of insight and information.

Nelson

[Bossa]

Hankstar,

Thanks for the response and for the reassurance.  I am new to the forum and your commentary as well as everyone else's has reduced much anxiety.

Thank you very much!

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Bossa,

Thanks for the post.

Q1:"Could the IRBBB be causing these PVCs or is it simply my anxiety over my "heart condition"?

Neither.  IRBBB is not mechanistically related to premature beats, be they from the atrium (PAC) or ventricle (PVC).  Anxiety, by raising adrenaline levels, can increase the frequency of premature beats in a minority of persons.  And notice that I use the term "persons", and not "patients".

Q2:"Should I be concerned over the increase in frequency of my PVCs and PACs?"

If you mean to ask if I think that these PACs or PVCs will kill or hurt you, then No, I think that you will suffer no ill physical effects from these premature beats.  However, anxiety about these beats can be disabling, and needs treatment.

Q3:"I heard and read about Chinese herbs, with no side effects ..."

Really, like Mua Huang, which leads to an increased incidence of strokes.  I believe that there is a legitimate, albeit limited, role for diet supplements and alternative medicines.  But I implore you to use common sense.  Do you really think that the Chineese have somehow concocted effective therapeutic potions devoid of side effects?  I'll be the first in line to use and prescribe them the day I see a shred of proof.

One last bit on info about IRBBB.  A 1975 study of 237,000 airmen under age 30 found 394 cases of complete RBBB, representing an incidence of 0.2 percent.  Ninety four percent of these subjects had a normal cardiovascular examination and the course was benign, with only one subject requiring a pacemaker in 10 years.  Presumably, IRBBB would be even more benign.

Happy Holidays.