PVC's and bradycardia

[bear1965]

I am a 38 yr old male.  I am 5'9", 155 lbs. and workout heavily.  My normal resting heart rate is about 52 beats per minute. When I wake up in the AM it may be as low as mid 40's. BP ave. 110/65. A year ago, I had my first PVC event. It lasted a week.  I was under heavy stress at the time from work, parent dying etc.  Almost no normal beats for several days.  Constant fluttering.  I continued to work out and it actually was better while working out.  After a week, it went away and I never saw a doc until it happened again a month ago.  In early Feb. 04, I had a PVC event that lasted a week.  Approx 75% of beats were not normal.  My heart rate stayed in the 50's.  No racing.  By the time I got a Dr's appt, the PVC's had stopped.  I had a stress EKG and only had 2 minor PVC's in 20 minutes.  The doc said I was ok and not to worry about it. He said it was stress induced. All was well until this week.  My doc is out until next Wed (I have an appt then).  This week, a few PVC's but my "new" symptom is when I am at rest(sitting at work, home watching TV) my heart rate slows and when it gets into the mid 40's or lower, it feels like my heart skips a beat.  I got light headed and stood up and did some jumping jacks and the feeling went away.  I increased my salt intake to try to raise my BP and heart rate. My heart rate is now about 60 and I feel better.  Any ideas?Also, I began drinking diet (caffeine free) drinks a yr ago. Can nutrasweet cause PVC's?

[soozq]

Have had my husband at ER twice in 4 days.  He is having 10-20,000 per day and is stopped dead in his tracks!  Having 1 normal heart beat in between the PVC's.  They tell you they won't kill you but then tell you to watch for shortness of breath, lightheadedness or chest pain as those are signs you are going to lose consciousness!  They say "we know they are aggravating but they are not going to kill you!"  To listen to his chest is frightening!  Medicine so far not helping.  I have had 2 cardiac ablations for tachacardias but did not know that you could get this for PVC's.  Will this cure my husband?  We are desparate!  He has no quality of life.  He is still trying to go about his daily business but is so worn out from fighting this!  Help!

[BorgQueen]

Dear Bear,
  I think you might be on to something with the salty drink thing. I used to throw PVCs when my bp and pulse were in the same range as your's is. I have Addison's(and a few other things) and (certainly not saying you do!) since being treated properly, my bp and pulse now stay around 115/70 and 65-70ish(a remarkable jump for me!) I don't have PVCs often or for long. AND, oddly enough, feel better all around.
  IF your doc seems to think you are otherwise okay, and you seem to be less symptomatic when your blood volume/presure is up a little, as a patient, I would try watchful waiting, and maybe adding some nice, stress reducing yoga to your routine.
   Just comments from the peanut Gallery

[Gaspipe]

Read your post with interest as PVC sufferer for many years I think many docs will give options for treatment but it really boils down to risk vs. benefits. In the presence of a heathly heart antiarrthymics can be of help but abalation I think is another question. As a heatlh care practioner myself and with a sister who is a PA in very large cardiology practice I,ve done a lot of checking into ablation therphy.One thing seems constant.that is the risks of abalation for PVCs in an otherwise heathly heart may be a dubious trade off.Meds are preferred by many cardios it seems to me and as one doc told me when I asked about ablation for PVCs "it seems like a good way to start PVCs if you don't have them" only a humble opionion but I'am with you on the treatment research end ...much more could be done. take care

[arthur]

Momto3,

Somehow my last post was lost.  The website for accessing the PAF ablation video (1 hr) is

http://www.or-live.com/stlukes/1164/

It should work on a normal 56K dial-up connection, it works better on a cable modem or DSL connection.  The initial web page has a subsection entitled "How to Prepare for Viewing" which should help you if you are having problems with the video.

Good Luck...It is definitely worthwhile.  

-Arthur

[Momto3]

Thanks SO much for sharing the website.  Although MOST of the technical stuff was wayyy over my head, I was fascinated nonetheless. It was absolutely amazing!  Thanks again!

[Momto3]

I'm not sure what happened to your post about the PAF procedure, but can you please repost the web site.  I'm going to give it another shot. I would love to see the procedure....fascinating!
Thanks.  connie

[I'mallheart]

hello i found that green tea had helped my ovc and palps..think about it in china etc,those folks drink alot of it and do alot of walking etc and have hardly no heart disease,palps pvcs etc. this is what worked for me i take about 4 cups a day and walk until i get tired and a target heart rate to about 175.. just may want to try it, yes theres caffine but very very little..you may feel alittle nasuea thats normal to start out with..also there is decaffinaed green tea..also try 500 mg of magnesuim oxide..this is great also
thanks good luck
remember i am NO doctor but have done lots of research and feel this is beneficial..

[Cleveland Clinic]

My mistake in the context of the original post.

My response was strictly intended to let people in this forum with PVCs know that we understand your plight and certainly do not dismiss them in any way. Hopefully, there will be more to offer in the future as far as specific therapies for people suffering from symptomatic PVCs. The field of electrophysiology is advancing rapidly.

For now, hopefully this forum does offer some nononsense advice and some practical tips on how to deal with them.

good luck all

[Ling]

Just a suggestion.  Check your search engine for "athletes heart".  It address's your complaint about conditioned hearts, low heart rates and PVC's.  Give it a look.  When it was mentioned to me I thought it was not applicable, but it may be for you.

Good Luck

[noreaster]

Maybe it's just me but I think that Fred was only joking. The comment made me laught anyway.

[flipflop]

Sooo true, we are all different and respond differently, what helps one, might make things worse for others, that is the great thing about this forum for each of us to share our experiences and give others an idea of what may or may not help them and work out a game plan with their doctor.

Most persons looks at their doctor with the impression that the doctor must do all helping or solving the problem, amazingly when a doctor and patient works together how much quicker a solution to the problem is solved or at least some improvement can be made.

flip

[trrtrix]

Good for you! I also had a very similar story as yours. The key word is 'had'. If you are sensitive to nutrasweet (aspartamine which is converted to aspartate when digested), you may also be sensitive to glutimate which is in high concentrations in energy bars. I was eating anywhere from 2-5 balance/power bars a day, pre/post exercise, and just as a quick healthy snack. Since completely eliminating those, I am normal sinus all the time. If I'm desperate, and have one anyway, the arrythmias/PVC's return. Bananas with peanut butter are now my pre-workout energy source.

Keep working out!
T

[Mel22]

I drink Nutrasweet like a fiend (I know, I'm working on it) but I don't experience any greater episodes of PVCs. In fact, what seems to have made the most difference has been the magnesium supplement I take, and cutting out foods that cause stomach irritation/heartburn like onions. Funny how different things affect people in different ways.

[bear1965]

For the first time in a while, I have had no PVC's for the last 24 hours and my heart rate is up from the 40's to the high 50's.  I do not claim to know what has caused the improvement.  But, I did cut out Nutrasweet the day before because it was the only thing I could think of that I had added to my lifestyle about the same time I started having PVC's a year ago.  I also drank alot of Gatorade and ate a banana as I read somewhere that Magnesium and Potassium could help.  Plus I figured the salt in the Gatorade may get my BP up.  Whatever, all I know is I will be trading in my apple a day for a banana and Gatorade.

Thanks.

[flipflop]

Dr. BKJ , I must say that in your answers you appear to be a no nonsense doctor and gets straight to the point with the patient.
You do not beat about the bush as so to speak, you give a straight forward answer whether it is what the patient wants to hear or not, you simply lay it on the table the way it is. I admire and respect that very much.

I think the original post dealt with PVCs and Bradycardia though.

Even though I wrote that I thought Fred made an excellnet point, all I think he was trying to get accross was, yes PVCs might be labelled harmless in the vast majority of cases, but what some person resolve to, to eliminate their symptoms are potentially dangerous, thus he views PVCs as potentially dangerous in other ways, even if PVCs by themselves are labelled "benign" in the vast majority of cases.


Once again I must say I admire your no nonsense answers and your frankness in all your answers to the questions posted here.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend,

       flip(Lyn)

[Cleveland Clinic]

Fred,

I'm not sure if your accusation is directed toward me in regards to taking the symptoms of those suffering from PVCs seriously.

You can be assured that it is clearly recognized by all of us moderating this forum that PVCs clearly are the cause of a great degree of suffering. We hope that in some ways this arena allows for some alternative solutions for this particular problem, where the medical establishment has no good answers.

With respect to your comments.

1) Whatever the reason, using alcohol to medicate is not a good practice and can lead to serious consequences. I will caution anyone solely making a statement about alcohol use in such a manner, whatever the reason.

2) The abstinence of exercise, and bias toward weight gain can be addressed in a safe environment in any patient.  The original post dealt with ventricular tachycardia, not PVCs. I'm sure you are aware of the differences.

good luck



  

[flipflop]

Fred, gotta admit it you do make an excellent point!!


flip

[HAMMERHEAD]

MY PVC'S SEEM TO BE TIED TO MY WEIGHT.I'M OVER WEIGHT 6'0 265lb
WHEN I GET DOWN TO 260 OR LOWER THEY SEEM TO GO AWAY. I ALSO HAVE ANXIETY. I TAKE XANAX FOR IT. I TAKE COMBIPRES 0.1mg/15mg.FOR MY BLOOD PRESURE.HAD ALL KINDA TEST THEY SAY I'M IN GOOD SHAPE JUST NEED TO LOOSE WEIGHT. WHAT DO YA'LL THINK.

[flipflop]

Nutrasweet could be contributing to your PVCs, but with your PVCs occuring more frequently at alow heartrate , maybe they are vagally mediated PVCs, epecially if they are less frequent or disappear at a higher heartrate.


It is my understanding that some well conditioned persons develop
vagally mediated PVC syndrome due to their low resting heartrate and good conditioning,almost appears to be one disadvantage of being so physically conditioned.

That is no reason not continue with your workouts once checked out and reassured by your doctor/cardiologist. remember being in good physical condition and being active reduces your risks of cardiovascular events, whereas the PVCs though uncomfortable have no adverse prognosis in the setting of a structurally sound heart.

good luck

flip(Lyn)

[trrtrix]

Yes! Nutrasweet can contribute to PVC's.

[Cleveland Clinic]

bear,

Alot of people have more frequent PVC's when their rate is slower. An event monitor might help your doc define exactly what the rhythm causing your symptoms is.

If it is PVCs, it really isn't an excuse to go out, get fat, smoke and drink alot of caffeine in order to try to avoid your symptoms.:)

There are other ways that people have coped with their PVCs that a quick search of the database might help you find.

Nutasweet as far as I know does not cause PVCs.

good luck