PVC's and exercise?

I have had PVC's for almost nine years.  I'm a 37 active male who enjoys exercising and doing active things.  However, physical activity starts my pvc episodes more than anything else...caffein, stress, food, alcohol, body position, you name it.  I usually work out in the evening, but then shortly thereafter, I feel that first hard beat and I know they are on the way for at least a few hours.  I then have a difficult time getting to sleep, especially if I sleep on my left side...I can really feel them on this side.  I take 100 mg's of Atenolol and this controls them only if I don't exercise.  So my question is, should I continue to exercise and tolerate the pvc's or don't exercise and live without them.  I have had all the major tests and they were all free of any coronary heart disease signs.

Thanks for your anticipated help.

Ken S.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

The evidence is clear that regular physical activity decreases your long-term risk of heart attack and death whereas PVCs have no impact on these endpoints, although they may be uncomfortable for some people.  It's your choice but I know which one I would pick.

[heidi]

I too experience PVC's and have for about 10 years.  I am 32 years old and have been a long distance runner since the age of 14.  I didn't used to get the PVC's very often with exercise, but over the last year they have been coming on when I run.  I know exactly what you mean by the hard heart beat.  I hate that feeling.  There is also the feeling that the skipped beat is up in your throat.  I too am scared to death to exercise with these.  All of the tests, holter, echo, stress etc. have come back fine.  They tell me to go ahead and exercise as usual.  When I hear about athletes dying suddenly from heart problems I always think what if that happens to me while I'm running.  Wilt Chamberlin is the latest athlete to die suddenly from a heart problem, but there is also the ice skater Grenkov?, Jackie Joyner Kersey, and recently a young football player.  This to me is so scary.  How do we know for sure PVC's can not become fatal? Especially during heavy exercise??

Heidi

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

The athletes you metioned died from heart attacks which are caused by blockages in the arteries, not from PVCs.  Heart attack is still the number one cause of death in this country so it is not surprising that some well know athletes will die from this.  Exercise is not a cure for heart disease, only a deterent to developing problems.  Based on the data it is better to exercise than not.

[Cynthia]

Heidi,

I know exactly how you feel.  I excercise quite regulary and just finished my track elgibility in June.  I too experience PVC's and the Doctor just told me that I also have sinus arrythmia and I am scared to death to do any excercising.  I also have anxiety so that may be part of my problem.  I guess my question is about this sinus arrythmia!  Is it fatal?  Can I die from it?  My doctor just sent me on my way saying that "it's nothing to worry about".  No explination at all, so if you (the Doctor) could give me some advice, I would love it.  Also this forum is awesome.  It's so nice to be able to share experiences!

Thank you!
Sincerely,
Cynthia

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Sinus arrhythmia refers to the natural variation in the heart cycle.  It is not really an arrhythmia in the true sense of the word but is a normal and healthy change of the heart cycle.

[brandi]

I know I need to exercise but I am also afraid because of the hard beat. I have pvc and sometimes it feels like I have one after the other or like My heart is having a spasm or quiver and it scares me. I went and had the ekg, electrocardiogram, 24 hour monitor, and even a stress test to rule out long Qt syndrome. I have been having these pvc's all day and when I go to feel my pulse sometimes, it feels so weak. Does anyone else experience the weak heart along with pvcs or the feeling like your heart is having a spasm? Any reply would be appreciated. This is very scary and most doctors only tell you a little and send you on your way. Anxiety doesn't help when it comes to this. Thanks

[brandi]

I have pvcs too and am afraid to get my heart beat up too much because of the pain that comes with the hard beats.
I have been having these all day and feel like I have one after the other which feels like my heart is having a spasm or quiver and I will feel my pulse and it feels weak. I have had the ekg, echo, heart monitor, stress test, etc and they have all come back normal although the heart monitor picked up the pvcs. Does anyone else experience the feeling like your heart is just quivering or having a spasm? It is very scary and Anxiety does not help, neither does the doctor's assurance. Thanks so much for any reply on this.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Dear Brandi,  These are common feeling and I am sure you will find many other people who post on this site who have the same sensations.

[chris]

hang in there!  a very large number of young, healthy folks have PVCs.  I have been through the anxiety you describe, and found bio-feedback training very helpful.  For my PVCs I am trying CoenzymeQ 10 with good results.  I'm getting far fewer "sessions," and those I do get are far less scary (you know what I mean -- some PVCs are no big deal, but others feel threatening). Also omega 3s, flaxseed oil and magnesium supplements can work in conjunction with the CoEQ10 (which is a bit pricey).  There is some science which supports these approaches.  They are a simple and non-medical way to help.  For women, hormonal changes also can also impact PVCs.  Re: exercize -- for some PVCers, it actually improves things.  PVCs and coronary disease are not the same.  I think the docs are right.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Thanks for your comments chris.

[Mary Allen]

I was a recent surgical patient (c7 corpectomey) and during recovery I had an attack of chest pain in the left side, starting under the breastbone and feeling the pain into the back area, shoulder and arm. An ECG was performed immediately and I was throwing PVC's, I was given 2-3 doses of nitroglycerine and the pain and shortness of breath disapeared.  Unfortunately, I do not see my surgeon for another week for the follow-up/ to my original surgery.  I was on pain medicine that was not very adequate....could this be a reaction to tremendous pain?  Please provide suggestions...Thank You

[brandi]

Chris, Actually I have been doing some research on flaxseed oil and it is suppose to be REALLY good for fighting Cancer, even cancer that is in the far stages. Flaxseed oil is also good for strokes, Cholesterol, Arthritis, and of course the heart. If anyone is interested in getting this information, The web site is WWW.Public.usit.net/spinner/Index.html. This man will send you all the information that you want or you can print out the information.
Omega 3 (flaxseed Oil) is best used in the oil form instead of the capsules. They are actually saying to eat two tablespoons of oil with cottage cheese or tofu because it has to be taken with something that is sulfur based in order to work correctly. I am going to try it. It seems like the pvcs that I get seem to come on more when I am sitting at work. Thanks for the reply.

[BF__]

I have found that Hawthorn berries are to be good for weak heart muscles, protect against the beginning stages of heart disease, etc. They are not saying to replace medicine with this but this is just a natural aproach to something, since alot of times the medicine that they could put you on for pvc's is actually more harmful than good.
You can look hawthorne berries up on
www.alternative-medicines.com/herbdesc2/1hawthor.htm.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Thanks to all for their comments.  To our readers please understand these are scientifically unvalidated claims.  This does not necessarily mean they don't work but they have not been demonstrated to be effective in clinical trials.

[jan]

Dear Naturalists,  I'd rather do things the natural way, too.  Right now, just recently being diagnosed, I am afraid.  However, do you have any info. on an herb that could replace Atenolol (beta blocker) for inapppropriate sinus tachy. and neurocardio. syndrome ?  Also, you said about weak heart muscles, would those things help with valves regurgitating?  Do they have an area at these sights just for the heart? How about an herb forum?  Thanks.  :o)

[Andy]

Heidi & Cynthia:

I share your sensations, anxieties and frustrations.  I am 37 and in good physical shape (cardiovascular exercise and moderate weight training).  I get have periodic PVCs (first onset that I noticed was this past summer).  It feels like there is a "catching" in the throat followed by a delayed beat, then a hard beat, then it normalizes.  The first few were really scary, but after a stress test and a few different doctors I am somewhat less anxious.  If you read the various posts from numerous PVC sufferers, it may help you lessen your anxiety as it did mine.  My question for those of you following this thread -- after you have a PVC does it ever trigger coughing for you?  It does for me and it's not clear if that physiological or anxiety-related.  Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this.  Thanks for any ideas and thanks for this site -- it's an excellent resource (both intellectually and emotionally).

[jan]

Dear Andy,
My sister and I, both, find that they make us cough.  The times when it doesn't, they seem like they want to go on, so I cough to stop them.  There must be something to it, because during my tilt table test when I went into my arrythmia the EP told me to cough to see if it would stop it.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Thanks for your comments.

[Aaron Levine]

Just wanted to let you know that I experience the same feelings Brandi.  I have had PVC's for over ten years (I'm 30 now).  I have had all the tests and they have come back negetive.  I was on medication, strict diet, etc...It took me 5 years to learn that the best medicine was to not worry about them.  I still exercise every day and still continue to get hundreds a day but I just ignore them and go about them and go about my business.  I do get what you descibed as a "spasm" about once or twice every 6 months.  The last time was during incline bench press.  Usually it last just a few seconds but this one would not stop.  I started to walk out of the weight room and collapsed on all fours.  It lasted about two minutes and I was lucky enough to have a cardiologist who saw me down and came right over and began taking my pulse.  I really thought I was going to die right there.  Once it stopped, the cardio. told me my pulse had been completly abnormal and said he thought I was in Tac-acardia (?).  Anyway, I went to the emergency room, on his instructions, and had an EKG.  Everything was normal, just a few PVC's.  I had another work up the following week and everything came back fine.  My doctor and cardiologist both believe I was having runs of PVC's with just one or two regular beats inbetween during the spasm.  I have had it since but it has only lasted 5 or ten seconds.  The only advice I can give you is to get a full work up through your doctor so you will be reassured.  That don't believe it is Tac-acardia because it happens so seldom.  I would'nt worry, I'm sure there are thousands of people that experience the same thing we do and live a perfectly  normal and healthy life.  You probably get the same thing I get occasionally.  Sorry for the long message but I know I scarry it can be when you have these really bad episodes.  Good luck.

[chris]

Andy -- I too tend to cough in conjunction with PVCs, but it is a pretty conscious reaction to them on my part:  I feel as though this (and the occasional fistpounding on the chest!) helps me to return to a normal rhythm.  I would'nt be surprised if your coughing was anxiety-related:  you know that nervy feeling you get with the onset of your PVCs -- coughing is a great "displacement" activity if nothing else!  To anyone else following this thread -- weigh in with your experiences too.  I get the sense that a lot of people are getting a lot of comfort from it.

[BF__]

Dear Jan,
  I have found several natural herb forums for you..sorry it took so long to respond..
www.realtime.net/anr/herbs/html
http://1001herbs.com
http://www.niscsj.com
you can try these. I am not sure about valves regurjitating. Sorry. You can look at this web site too about natural approaches to the heart.
http://women.americanheart.org/index2.html.
Hope this helps

[brandi]

Andy,
I notice sometimes that I cough after i have a pvc. I guess maybe, I get scared and am hoping the feeling is really just conjestion so If I cough, maybe it will clear it out and help. That is my thought on it.

[brandi]

Thanks Aaron,
   The times that I do get the "Spasms" they last only a few seconds , sometimes even a minute or so and I will stand up and walk because I feel myself going into a panic. I tried to explain this to a doctor and he said if my heart was having a spasm, I would pass out. I could feel my heart just kind of twitching around and it feels like I could pass out from the adrenolin I get from this. I have even woke up in the middle of the night from a dream about this and was actually having one.
I appreciate your story and just to know that I am NOT crazy. I got checked for Long QT syndrome because this can cause an alarm clock to make your heart stop or a horn honking. A stress test ruled this out. I suggest anyone who is having feelings like and are afraid to exercise, get a stress test. This consists of walking on a treadmill and running while they check the heart. All mine showed was that I was a little out of shape. Thanks again. <><

[brandi]

This website has been a really big help to me. I thought I was the only one with this rare disorder and doctors did not believe me. I wish I would have found this a few years back. I think there are alot of people out there who have this disorder and the panic that goes along with it. I would really like to get some kind of Online Pvc support group. If anyone else is interested in this please email me at ***@**** or you can see my web page at Http://sites.netscape.net/brandibrandi026/homepage.
I think this site is really great and I hope more people hear about it.

[jan]

Dear BF,  
Thanks so much!

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Please remember that just because something is a herb does not mean it cannot be harmful (i.e. hemlock).  Use these "natural" remedies with caution and never "in place of" medications prescribed by your doctor.  Remember most drugs are from natural substances in the first place.

[sarah]

I too, am getting what I think are PCVs.  There is no pain associated with them, but there is that "hard" heartbeat.  Last year I got into a running routine and would get them occasionally while running.  They are scary when exercising because you aren't sure if you should stop.  Also, sometimes when I would first start running I'd get little pains here and there in the chest area.  Nothing that felt crushing or pressure, though.  Almost like little stitches.  I guess my question is- is it normal to get PCV's while exercising??? (I am 29 y.o. female, had a murmur when I was little (doctors haven't been able to detect it in years), had an echocardiogram done last year and it was normal.)

I enjoy this forum.  It helps to know there's others out there with this problem!

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Thanks to all.  Obviously a lot of interest in this topic.

[aaron]

What a coincidence.  If it is really bad I get up and start walking around to, that's what I was doing when I fell down at the gym.  I get a huge burst of adreniline too if I'm having the spasm, I think that is why I try and walk it off.  I also awake in the middle of the night if I am having a nightmare.  Usually if I am having a fight in my dream or doing something that really raises my adrenilin I can feel it as I'm dreaming, and then it wakes me up and I am having 3 to 6 beats in a row followed by regular PVC's.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Stress can increase the number of PVCs.