PVC's during sexual activity

Someone please help me with this i feel like i can't function anymore

i'm 34 male white.  5'5 160 pounds. smoke pack and half for 15 years. don't drink don't do drugs. i suffer from panic attacks for over a decade. never felt pvcs until about 3 months ago. my aunt died of cancer and from the grieving i felt pvcs . although in the past i felt a pvc like maybe once  a year. now i feel them daily. i did a thalium stress test, echo, holter and blood work. holter showed isolated pvcs. i had 2 holters. first 24 hours showed 8 pvcs. second one for 48 hours showed 33 pvcs and some pacs. even though the second one was 48 hours that is still more pvcs. now im planning to have another holter because the pvcs seem to be increasing even more. i'm not sure whethers its my anxiety of them them makes them increase but either way i'm scared to death. i read about sudden cardiac death and my life has been at a stand still. i quit my job. i can't smile or even go outside without fear of every symtom. i may have sleep apnea although not confirmed by doctor yet. in any case my pvcs sometimes happen when i lean forward. when i suddenly move, when i eat a heavy meal, or simply have a bad thought. but here is my biggest concern. most of my pvcs happen during sex or masturbation. when i do either one of those i hold my breath. is there any connection to holding breath and sexual activity and does having pvcs mostly during sexual activity put me at risk for sudden cardiac death does it increase my chances for a cardiac event? the cardio i saw didnt seem concerned , chalked it up to anxiety. once and for all are these pvcs dangerous in a person of my health background? should i stop having sex if the pvcs keep coming? if i don't stop will the pvcs get worse and maybe lead to a serious arrythmia? also i should mention one ER doc pointed to my earlier holter and put down possible wolf parkinson white syndrome. the cardio didnt make anything of that though. please help i feel like i'm paralized from fear of this stuff

[tickertock]

You're headed down a very SAD road if you make PVCs stop you from enjoying sex, with a normal cardiac evaluation as you stated you have nothing to fear, HELL a few PVCs during sex only makes one realise what a good time they're having , all the excitement and adrenaline. I 've been in bigeminy  with PVCs during sex with my worst episode of PVCs yet and nothing happened, trust me you have nothing to fear once you've been given the all clear by a cardiologist.

Its' uncomfortable I'll admit, but the "good feeling outweighs the bad" at least in my case. Enjoy and don't let PVCs inhibit you in any way at all. Good luck.

[Michaelccc]

thank you for the response but doesnt getting pvcs during this activity show that there may be someting wrong or risk of sudden cardiac death or something? how come i don't get it during exercize but during sex i do? is it cause i tend to hold my breath during sex?

[tickertock]

I can't speak for you specifically but when I had my last dreaded episode of PVCs, sex would be a severe trigger, I consulted with my cardio who assured me it would pass and it was of no concern , just all the excitement and adrenaline rush during a bad episode only triggering more.Don't hold your breath you need oxygen during an activity such as this, sounds as though anxiety might have taken over, DON"T let this happen to you.If in doubt seek a seek opinion , also I'm not an MD, only speaking of my personal experiences.

[tickertock]

If in doubt,Seek a second opinion, I should have wrote.

[frs87]

Yeah, with a normal heart you shouldn't be worrying at all. I can't answer why you don't have any during exercises but some while having sex, but it's irrelevant anyway, since they're harmless. Sometimes it has something to do with the position or something.

There are not known damage caused by PVCs in normal structured heart, so having them doesn't mean you'll have arrhythmia.

Ps.: I ALWAYS get PACs when I lean forward. Always.

[va_tony]

The sympathetic nervous system is involved in both exercise and sex (and PVCs). During exercise, it causes the heart rate to increase as needed. During sex,  the sympathetic system is responsible for the physiological phenomenon of orgasm and/or ejaculation, The sympathetic nervous also can trigger PVCs.  Frankly I think the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and vagal nervous systems) goes ballistic during intercourse, so it doesn't surpirse me that the heart skips occasional beats (PVCs).

I googled around and found this statement in a paper describing a study of those with implantable ICDs (i.e., those susceptable to VT and Vfib): "Occurrence of life threatening arrhythmias and sudden death during or following sexual activity is infrequent." So, if death is rare in those susceptible to Vfib, I think it's safe to assume that if you have an otherwise normal heart you don't have to worry about dropping dead during intercourse.

Tony

[SillyHeart]

Please do NOT hold your breath during sexual activity.  That can absolutely cause PVCs.  Try very hard to keep breathing normally and evenly.

PVCs have not been shown to be a sign of increased risk of mortality.  You're not going to die from them.  Please do consider giving up smoking though.  To put it in perspective, nobody dies from PVCs but 50% of smokers will die from smoking.

[PVC man]

I have had PVCs for over 20 years and PVCs frequently happen during sex.  They also can happen during any physical activity that is sudden or accompanied by emotion.

Quick story: I have a stress echo every year and in past years NEVER got PVCs during testing. This past December I was on treadmill and started to get PVCs.  My cardioogist said..."keep going...if your going to have a heart attack this is the place to have it."  I REALLY felt like I failed big time.  

As the test proceeded, excercise level increased and PVCs STOPPED.  I still thought I failed because I didn't feel any normal beats between PVCs.  My cardio said I did GREAT and that the PVCs were nothing because I had plenty of normal beats in between...he said to get out there and RUN...

Now,to make a long story longer, I have enjoyed jogging many years...it used to be that I could just take off down the sreet at full run with no problem.  With age I have found that if I try that I get PVCs.  So, now I WALK two laps and then begin a slow jog...it works like a charm and I can run 2-3 miles with no PVCs. and if I DO get PVCs I just slow it down and walk awhile.

I read a great article that people prone to PVCs should NEVER take off and run up aflight of stairs because that will often bring on PVCs.  They will not drop dead but they will be uncomfortable so...just take it easy and "build up!"

So I guess what I am saying is in relation to sex...it can't hurt to start slow also...your partner won't mind...but seriously I do get them during sex...they are disconcerting but like ticker tock says sometimes you feel stronger once you work through it. It just means thre hormones are flyin'.

Be calm and stay well.

[anacyde]

When I was getting exclusively activity-related palpitations my cardiologist assured me I was fine.  The scary stats you're concerned about are typically about people with heart failure, coronary artery disease or some structural abnormality.  In a normal healthy heart, PVCs at activity or rest are not significant.  I know it's hard to believe (and REALLY annoying during sex) but it won't hurt you.

[deedle1976]

Just to reassure you that what your'e feeling is normal. Studies have shown that approx 5% of the general popultaion have >300 PVCs per day.4% have >500 per day and 2.7% have  >1000 per day.
I hope you can begin to accept these as totally normal and not let the anxiety take over your like. I know they feel really horrible and can cause awful panic but when you feel worried look around you at the people you pas on the street, or work with and remind yourself that a very large proportion of them have many more PVCs than you do and they are not dropping dead.

[Michaelccc]

So what you all are saying is that holding breath during sex and getting pvc's is normal?  i mean i usually have to stop having sex when this happens. what if i don't will they get more and more frequent. and won't them getting more frequent turn into something bigger like a new electric line formed and new natural pacemaker formed? atrial tachy? or ventricular tachy? i still don't get this. why not during exersize like treadmill test but sex brings them on while holding breath.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

i know how scared you must be , i remember when i was 23 and got my first pvc/pac, wow i started making my plans for my two young boys who would take care of them and how i would miss every thing they did because i just knew i was going to die withthe next palp, but it is now 23 years later and am still here and did raise my babies to fine young men.   there is nothing worse than your main organ to act up, its your life line and well it really needs to stop it , but it will do as it wants i have found that out. i must be strange because my pac do not come with stress, they come because they want to, and i do not have them all year, i get them for 2-3 months at a time 24/7 6-7 a min than they go away for a year and come back just like i said. so it bothers me that everyone seems to get them from stress where i dont, why am not sure ive been under lots anxiety this year took nerve pills to get my body back under control but no pac from the anxiety and belive me this has been the worse anxiety ive ever had. so why if i havepac dont they do like every body elsa and come with stress? first you needget a job dont stay at home thats all you will think about , dont you have to work, sounds like you have a bad case of anxiety and i can tell you if you dont get that under control your life will be non-exist, that will take you down go get help , get a med to help you get back on feet and try not to worry about the palps they were on holtor you have done test dr says your ok you have to belive him. have sex enjoy life live it dont let this stop you. i did when it first started and stayed in the house didnt want to go anywhere scared it might happen and who would help me, i learned it was not going to kill me after 2 years of not living and 6 doctors telling me i was ok. see a dr get a anxiety med and maybe go on a b-blocker mine is great but you still get them sometimes pills wont take them all away but they do help.i hope your days get better . we are here for you been there  and know how it helps to talk to others who are going through what your going throught. God Bless you . Barbara

[deedle1976]

I would expect sex isn't the same as simple exercise in terms of what's going on in the body. I don't know the biology but I would imagine the state of arousal along with the vasodilation required to maintain an erection could perhaps have a stimulatory affect on the heart.

[surfgirl]

count your blessings...........I had a dear friend who is only with us in spirit now,  his name was Fred Frog, who had an ICD that would deliver a SHOCK when he was sexually aroused.  Talk about negative conditioning.  That would be enough to cause an invagination, IMO.

[Michaelccc]

thank you for writing that to me. so let me get this straight . if i keep having sex and feel pvc getting more frequent when i don't stop that is not dangerous?????

[Dootles]

O my gosh how i know what your feeling after reading about your delema. Listen i have had pvc for years and sometimes during an attack i have pvc every other beat for days! Talkin about hell! Now sex always brings on pvc for me. I even get fuzzy in my chest after words where i have to cough like i have something stuck in my lungs. It really gets crazy! So i of course am the  girl so lots of times positioning is worse then others. I find that if im on my back its worse then if im not and in a different position. LOL Now i know this is not sex ed but i do feel that there is a correlation  with sex and pvc.  I hate them as much as the next person there disruptive and sometimes more then not SCAREY! But you really have to just deal with it when it happens. Post tramatic stress is a huge trigger for pvc as well. Your aunt died and perhaps you have not dealt with it like you should. I know that when my mom died i had such a hard time for years! Finally after many years passed i stopped getting so dizzy and some of my other symptoms disaperared. My Dr really emphysized on stress and depression and anxiety bringing these on in young healthy people like us. Of course smoking is a whole other topic of conversation. I have been in the health and fittness industry for years and well,,, smoking isnt the best thing for you or anyone. I believe that when im bored with life or not happy in my current situation pvc is much more present. When i find some type of trouble to get into to distract me it goes away sometimes for years! Believe me trouble and i are friends. LOL
PVC will not harm you!! Repeat this!!! LOL Just a pain in the #@% Ok now live!! Be happy and have great sex!!!! LOL
Deb in califorinia

[va_tony]

I wonder if "I'm having palps" will soon replace the old "I have a headache" excuse. ;-)

[Thatch]

I was having problems with palpitations and severe shortness of breath and was advised to come faster.(true!) It is no big deal, just be happy the thing works and use it. I was a smoker and quitting is easy, I did it hundreds of times. Seriously I did succeed using the patch, but couldn't sleep with it on. I bought only the highest dose which is I think 21 mg and proceeded to cut the things up into smaller and smaller pieces and the time I stuck it out I used less than half the patches in the kit. Buy something filling and not too fattening to munch on so as to not gain too much weight.

Don't worry about sudden death, few of us will be so lucky when the parts wear out. The good news is you are going to live, the bad news is you are going to live. One of my doctors told me that back in 1991 when I was 35 and thought I was DOOMED!

Thatch

[Dootles]

LOLOLOLOL  O my gosh thats great!! Do you know ive used it!! LOLOLOL
My poor husband who is 10 years younger then i. "yes really" I cant help it! It just happened! LOL
Anyways, he is so good to me when im having runs of pvc. He knows that i just want to run through a brick wall. So he dosnt even try to get any at those times. The problem is that they have been driving me crazy lately. AHHH!!!!
LOL
Deb

[FLBrat]

Too bad you guys were not clever like my husband.  He told me it was his highly motivated opinion that headaches can be cured by activity.  Some mumbo jumbo about blood flow being forced to the brain to relieve the headache.  I believe he thinks it is a cure all to all ailments.

[often]

brat....how interesting....my ex swore up and down it would cure backaches....I tried it after the divorce....and darned if it didn't.  

for those of you who "have palps" while indulging....it has been agreed that if you have a normal heart there is no problem....but if there were.....I believe I posted on another thread that if I am going to go.....I would rather go while doing something I like with someone I love....heck...even with someone I don't know

[alicia347]

I sometimes get heart palps when I am getting into the groove also. Once I ignored it and kept going to see what would happen, and it got really bad and my heart was racing and fluttering, so I got up and everything got grey and I thought I was going tpo pass out. I didn't though and everything passed within 5 minuites or so. Try holding your breath for a full 10 seconds. It will trigger your palps to stop at once. Works all the time for my mom when her heart is racing with atrial tachycardia or is flip flopping. Also, sometimes sexual arousal causes these unpleasant things, and sometimes they don't. Anybody get dizzy with these, or have a problem when they bend down? My heart was checked out fine with a ekg and echo. I was told they are not dangerous for me. However, if I ever get heart disease then they can be life threatening. My dad died at the age of 49 from a heart attack due to advanced artiriosclerosis. My mom has these palps and she is 58. I am 32 and have been dealing with these since I was 18. The ones I get is PVC, PAC's, atrial tachycardia with pvc, or pac's. They have never caught it on an ekg or holter. But they say if it was a dangerous arrythmia I would have died. Good point.

[alicia347]

  I wasted years worrying about what if's. I have been having these unpleasant things happen for 13 years and I am still here. I get the ones that are really frightning. My heart starts skipping around and my heart races up to 300 beats per min. and in between the fast beats it stops, and skips around. Meanwhile I get dizzy really bad and fuzzy in the head. I even start seeing stars, I have never passed out and they always come when I have been stressed out and always after the stress has left already. It's like the aftermath. Don't let these arrythmias ruin your life. I know that we all think about sudden death, but this only happens to people with underlining heart disease. People that die of S.D. always have some types of heart abnormality and generally have no symptoms. They dont start having PVC's and then die. They just pass out before they know anything about what is going on with their heart. I have been to the best Cardio Docs, and even the Head Cardiologist. They all don't worry about these things. Some people have 1000's a day and they still dont worry about it, unless they have something wrong with their hearts. If these happen during sex or masterbation (masturbation), then just avoid the activity at the time. Try later. I know it sucks but why do you think I am here answering your post? I too have had this happen and I am trying to pass time. LOL