PVC's and VT

[kalric]

Hello and thanks for taking my question.

Recently I have developed PVC's and or Ventricular Tachycardia (sp) which came out of no where.  I've had every test imaginable, ekgs, echos, nuclear stress test (2 in the last year), angiograms...everything.  It all turns up ok.  BP and cholesterol is great, don't drink, smoke, drugs, gave up coffee/soda etc.

My cardiologist is really trying to find the cause because he said the pvc's are coming from the lower chamber of my heart.  After the stress test yesterday, he has ordered some sort of sleep study for tonight.  My pvc's are getting less and less, but now I'm getting worried after the comment about the lower chamber causing them.

My questions are:

1.)  Are there different types of PVC's and does it matter where they originate?

2.)  If every test that I have had comes back a-ok, can irregular sleep patterns, (remembering dreams or not completing REM sleep) have anything to do with these starting up?

3.)  Can dieting - not eating right cause PVC's...skipping meals.  Blood tests show everything but potassium was ok...potassium was high.

4.)  Since my cardiologist is putting me through all these tests...is he looking for something and not telling me, or just being thorough?  I'm mid 30's with no other health problems.

5.)  What steps can I take to get rid of these?  I'm not worrying about them anymore, but their presence is still there.

Thanks for taking the time to answer these!

[upbeat63]

Hi, new to the forum but I know I'm not alone. I'm a 41 y.o. female with a history of PVCs back to age 18 (that I remember). I understand the anxiety issue, and I've tried to tell myself after my first holter monitor that everything was ok (450 PVCs per hour--every hour but the cardiologist said nothing to worry about). So I've tried not to worry about it, .12mg of xanax takes the edge off.

But recently I noticed more PVCs and a 48 holter showed 1220 PVCs an hour--every hour! I'm still told they are benign, won't casue any heart damage, but that maybe I should try beta-blockers.

I'm reluctant to do that, the first cardiologist said they wouldn't help much, and the PVCs are benign, now my MD says why not try them. But I think my symptoms are from anxiety and .12 mg of xanax still helps. But who can forget 1220 PVCs an hour. Any comments from people who have a high frequency? By the way, my pulse is fine at 65 to 85, higher with exertion but maybe only 100 to 130 if I'm exercising. Thanks

[karie]

You raised a good question, in regards to hormones and pvc's,pac's.
I noticed an increase at 35 and have suffered daily with an increase during the same days of the month.
Do you have mvp, heart murmurs, cardiogenic syncope with your palp symptoms?
My hormone levels were just checked and suggested to try Nuva ring which is the most accurate with hormone levels distribution. I am 37 and heart disease has effected the women in my family and avoided b/c due to stroke risk.

[mdg63]

Hi everyone - I am so thankful to find this place.

My history is this -- I am 42, and overweight, trying to diligently lose.  I am trying to work through the stress in my life - that's been tough.

I began noticing weird beats at age 30.  I was a smoker, coffee drinker back then.  At age 33 I had a full blow WPW episode, and have since been on Atentol -- 50 mgs a day.

Normally things are under control -- lately it's been all over the place.

While I haven't had true WPW episodes but I have had PVC's and PAC's increasingly -- which is really really scary.

I just talked to my cardiologist -- and she wants to see me on Wed for follow up, obviously I am not dying.

But man scary none the less.

I am so glad to have found this place.

M

[Neon]

Can I ask (this is important as I'm trying to compile information which may help me move closer to the possible cause of these annoying, harmless beats): if you breathe mostly through your mouth, can you post 'MOUTH', or if through the nose, post 'NOSE'. If you are always struggling for air (as an annoying habit), post 'AIR HUNGER'.

Thanks.

I'll get back to you.

[brentcatoe]

Putting ice on the face is just a form of vagal stimulation. It is mainly used to treat SVT (superventricular tachycardia). It works by stimulating the vagus nerve which in turn tells your heart rate to drop. I would not recommend using ice to try to stop PVC's. It can cause your heart rate and blood pressure to drop dangerously low. Plus vagal maneuvers have no effect on ventricular ectopy (PVC's, Vtach)

[ube]

hello,  i am a 44 yr old female, with both PVCs and very rapid heart beats.  Since I was young I have experienced the ocassional skipped heart beat followed by a thump.  I thought everyone experienced it.  After several miscarriages, I suffered from panic attacks for a whole year.  It wasnt until I took paxil for a year, plus therapy that I finally learned to keep my anxiety under control and avoid panic attacks.  Which is when I decided to try for another baby.   It wasnt until I was 5 months pregnant with my third child, did I have my first really bad episode.  I thought I was going to die for sure, and ended up in the emergency room.  My heart was racing at 160-170 beats per minute, and by the time the rolled up the ekg cart, my heart just went back to normal.  This whole episode lasted about 50 minutes non stop, and it started out of nowhere while I was sleeping.  Right after I delivered, I had a specialist check me out, do the whole battery of test, ekg, echocardiogram, stress test etc. and he discovered a mitral valve prolapse, which he said was quite common and benign.  He went on to explain that while pregnant, due to the increased blood volume it is common to get these episoded of racing heartbeats. He didnt prescribe any medication and I certainly did get better.  During my last pregnancy, these episodes became more frequent, and also the PVCs.  I ended up taking Inderal starting in my 4th month of pregnancy, whiich relieved me a bit of the symptoms.  I did not enjoy my pregnancy at all, and prayed that I would deliver as soon as possible and get some relief.

SInce I had my baby, she is now 2 years old, I have had another battery of test done, like before, only to find out that my mitral valve prolapse has gone from mild to moderate.  And this is the reason I get PVCs and rapid heart beat. He has put me on Corgard 20 mg, since it has a longer duration in your system that Inderal, and have found some relief.  I do get the skip a beat several times a day, that I am aware of, but they do become worse at night, while sleeping. My doctor saids that I feel more of them because I am laying down and not moving around, but that I probable get them in the same variations throughout the day.  

Are there any technichs that any of you might know of, that can stop them when they are really bad?  Today I am having a bad day with the PVCs in the 1000s.  Ive been told that since this is an electrical malfunction of the heart sometimes doing the following might put your heat back in the normal rythm such as, ice on your face?  any other suggestions?  I am desperate, and keep my husband up at night.  thanks