PACs and PVCs

[Osweetp2]

I am a 56 year old female, I developed PACs and PVCs this summer after having strange chest and stomach pressure, I also had fatigue during this time. It lasted for a few months. I went to the ER and the doctor there suspected that I have gerd and told me to take acid blockers. They found nothing wrong on the EKG monitor  with my heart while I was at the ER. I lost about 10 lbs during this time because of lack of appetite and I slept a lot. After a few months I could feel my heart doing strange beats and skipping beats sometime as many as 6-10 times in a few minutes. I went to a cardiologist and he had me wear a monitor for 24 hours. That is when I found out I had PAC and PVCs. I had never heard of them before. He told me to go home and google it. (I guess he was in a hurry that day) That was the only test done besides the blood tests and EKG from the ER. I have pretty much gotten use to them now. The pressure in my chest and abdomen is no longer prevalent, or I have just gotten use to it too. It only really bothers me at night or when I am tired. I do feel like it drains my energy somewhat. The only heart disease in my family history was my grandfather. I do have high cholesterol as well.  My questions are these: Did the doctor do enough tests to really diagnosis my problem? Do these irritating beats and chest tightness ever go away? Will more cardio exercising help them go away?

[CCFHeartMD13]

PVCs and PACs are just extra heart beats that come a little earlier than normal and therefore don't use the typical conduction system in the heart. They are not dangerous. I think that at your age getting at least an echocardiogram and considering a stress test if there are abnormalties noted on the echo or symptoms of chest pain or shortness of breath are causing a problem. Once you have had a cardiac workup that revealed and this revelas a normal heart, then they are especially benign. With that said i do not think there is anything to worry about at the present time at all.

To answer the question about if these ever go away. It depends on what they are caused by but normally there is no clear reason and at times they do go away on there own. Would try to avoid caffeine/coffee, any stimulants, and try to not let stress be a major issue in your life.

If they dont go away on there own then can consider using a medication called a beta blocker that can sometimes help the PAC's and PVC's.
Usually extra cardio exercsing does not do anything for the beats but as a whole CV exercsing is good for you no matter what

Hope this helps and please let me know if there is anything else i can answer

[Osweetp2]

No I am not on any medications at this time. Only supplements which I have started taking since this began. I am not a good pill taker...even the supplements get skipped some days.  I try taking selenium, vitamin B's
iodine, melatonin, omega-3, digestive enzymes and Nogerd every day.

[curmudgen]

are you taking ambien?  I had the same symptoms/tests - stopped taking ambien symptoms disappeared...