Technical cause of Heart Palpitations

[lassygreenlover]

I am studying heart palpitations/PVC's as they are now affecting my life and I am also doing a research paper on them.  I am looking for easy to understand yet accurate and detailed info on what exactly is going on when this happens.  Why do we feel them so strong when the monitors don't pick them up?  What is actually causing the sensations?  What is going on?  Why are they no reason to worry?  I saw that there also may be a correlation to digestive problems that trigger them?  Absolutely seems stress triggers them. (though I never feel stressed until AFTER they start)

The first step, is controling the proceeding anxiety.  After that (and elimination of caffeine) what are the methods (besides drugs) that others have found successful in dealing with these.  How does one live 15+ years with this and feel it is 'normal'.  I don't accept that.  It is uncomfortable and distracting to say the least.

I appreciate any information, website suggestions, advice and testimonials.

Thank you
mariposa

[spiderwomanmary]

THE BEST TREATMENT FOR HEART PALPITATIONS  FOR MYSELF AND MANY  PEOPLE I KNOW IS THE ADDITION TO YOUR DAY OF CALCIUM CITRITE ( NOT CARBONATE) IN THE DOSE OF 1000 MG AND MAGNESIUM IN THE DOSE OF 500MG. ( 1 PART CALCIUM TO 1/2 MAGNESIUM) WITH THE ADDITION OF VITAMIN D WHICH HELPS THE CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM WORK. A FANTASTIC FORMULA IS BY SOLARAY, USUALLY SOLD IN GNC HEALTH STORES, OR ONLINE. IT IS A COMPLETE FORMULA, 6 CAPSULES, TAKEN AT BEDTIME. NO MORE HEART PALPITATIONS !! AND FOR OTHERS WHO SUFFER FROM RESTLESS LEGS, INSOMNIA, ANY TYPE OF NERVOUSNESS, ANXIETY,CAN'T SLEEP BECAUSE YOUR MIND ROLLS ON AND ON , THIS IS FOR YOU. AND NO I DON"T OWN ANY SOLARAY STOCK !!!!!! TRY IT YOU WILL BE AMAZED. I'VE TRIED MANY DIFFERENT RX'S, AND THIS SIMPLE REMEDY WORKS ! THANKS FOR LISTENING, AND FEEL BETTER, ALL........MARY

[hatemyheart]

I also hate PVCs, and your post is the only place I have seen a reference to 'sleeping on the left side' or 'eating' associated to palpatations - I thought it was only my imagination! Have you ever caome across a drug which has helped your symptoms, or any techniques?  Atenelol is some help but helpfulness fades after two or three days and taking more will only  be counterproductive.

[LadyNRA]

I tend to agree with Ihatepvcs.  Though I feel them more after eating, I think it's because of the pressure up into the thoracic cavity (guessing here) rather than from the vagus nerve.  A smaller meal doesn't seem to do much to make them come or go.  I do believe that caffeine MAY be a culprit.  Had sweet tea at a luncheon and felt them more than usual (of course could have been the fact that the unit ate at a nice restaurant a.k.a. big meal).  And yeah, they are darned annoying.  I started paying attention to what eases them up more so than what might be causing them.  Since many people on here don't find the 'trigger', and many say it "just happens" for no reason, I didn't waste a whole lot of time time thinking about triggers (though it's I am observing it a bit).  What I like to do instead is figure out when they lessen up.  For me, it's that period between when I am just starting to get drowsy before bed to first thing in the morning when the alarm goes off.  So I do get some rest there...they may still be occurring but I don't feel them.  Secondly, I find that being distracted by some pleasurable activity (visiting with friends or doing something fun, going to a movie, playing card or board games, etc.) tend to make them less noticable for me.  I may not be able to make them stop but I can at least give myself a break from the general discomfort.

[finetilthree]

I read your post and this is one post from another forum member that explains in a technical way.  

"Stop picking on the vagus nerve.

Foci are responsible for various arrhythmias, including PACs and PVCs, and the movement of the ions they pump out is modulated by the state of your autonomic nervous system. It's like a valve setting, when you're anxious the valve opens up and the focal signaling gets through to affect the normal ion channels in your heart. The "valve" is controlled autonomically, ie, basically the state of your "nerves"...and that translates to sudden posture changes, a full stomach, and/or being anxious.

That's why the causes for skips seem so mysterious. They aren't really.

-Arthur"

[ihatepvc's]

the most important thing i've learned that was advised by my cardiologist is that unless you have an obvious trigger (for me it's alcohol) do not change your life for them. there was a time when i wouldn't sleep on my left side or eat carbs including any sugar or drink coffee. It was limiting my life and that was making me more miserable than the pvcs. now i drink coffee and eat cake if i want and it makes no difference in the frequency or severity of the pvcs. they just come when they want and there's no sense in analyzing it. i take a beta blocker which helps me ignore them and just get on with my life. as my doctor said we have more chance of dying in a car crash than having a serious pvc related problem. it's just not worth thinking about. take medication if you can't ignore them and continue with your life.

[CollegeGirl143]

If you are having a sensation while on a monitor, and it is not picked up, the sensation you had was not cardiac related.  No one knows why we get PVC's and PAC's, but everyone gets them. Not everyone feels them. But chances might be what you're feeling arent even PVC's if they arent showing up on a monitor.