PVC's

[Heather Lenton]

I am a 27 year old female, 5'4", 105 lbs.
I've maintained a healthy diet using "The Zone" method for the last 2 years.
I exercise very regularly - 4 times a week, with at least 30-40 minutes of cardio each session.  I usually run on the treadmill at a low rate of speed anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, then lift weights.
Over Thanksgiving I ran my first 5K race.
3 weeks ago, I felt my heart skip a beat.  Then it became consistent.  So I monitored it and could find no pattern.  It didn't seem related or aggrivated by my exercise, or eating, or drinking.  I don't smoke, but I do drink coffee and occassionally alcohol.  I haven't changed any patterns recently other than the abundance o' carbohydrates I ate at Thanksgiving.  I had a strange menstrual cycle this month as it occured per usual then a week later started again.  However, my mother always had irregular periods and problems and I have been the same, so it didn't surprise me.
Since I first noticed this, it was pretty constant and seemed to get more frequent.  The feeling is that of a "hiccup" or missed beat or a flip flop type feeling.  Sometimes it takes my breath away for a second but other than that I don't feel any different.  My mother suggested I stop exercising for a few days.  I did and that was the first time it stopped happening.  I didn't notice the feeling for two days.  Then I went back to the gym and it has started again.  It's at it's most frequent as I write this - it has happened 5 times in the last 7-10 minutes.
Someone suggested to me that I might not be drinking enough water or replenishing vital electrolites.  I find it hard to believe that if I simply drank more Gatorade when I workout that this problem will go away, but I don't know.  I want to get this checked out but I don't have any medical insurance and I don't have a lot of money.  Can you help me?  I  don't know what to do.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Less likely to be related to the Zoloft but to the underlying anxiety that the Zoloft may be treating.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Less likely to be related to the Zoloft but to the underlying anxiety that the Zoloft may be treating.

[heather]

Doctor,
Could these PVC's have anything to do with the antidepressant Zoloft?  I have been on it for about 5 years now.  Thank you for responding to my questions.  This website is a wonderful thing you are doing for people.  Thanks again.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Thanks to all for your comments.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

You are experiencing PVC's and your diet may have cased electrolyte or chimical imbalances in your blood stream that may have precipitated these.  I would recommend stopping your diet or visisting a physician prior to continuation to make sure that you do not have significant metabolic derangements including acid buildup in your blood stream.

[forest]

Hi Ive had heart arrhythmia and weird sensations for the
past month. went to the doctor,They did a echocardiogram
said my heart looked normal.So Ive been doing some surfing on
the net and found some likely suspects.I was reading that
magnesium defecincy can cause heart arrhythmias.So that the route
Im doing now.Dont know if this is your problem but just thought
I would throw it out anyway.Hope you find the answers your looking for.

[marissa]

I want you to know that you are NOT alone in what you are feeling.  Many people have described the same sensation.  I also get them but not at the same frequency you are reporting them.  When did they start?  Have you always felt them?  When you start excercising do they stop?  Are you dizzy, lightheaded or faint?  I suggest you see a doctor.  My doctor has told me not to worry about them because he thinks they are do to stress...and the more you worry about them the more they come.  I think it would be useful for you to search this site for more infomation on PVC's and PAC's.  I am no doctor so I am interested in what the doc has to say...In the mean time good luck and if you need to talk email me at ***@****

[kris]

After ten years of the feeling like my heart was doing somersaults and seeing doctor after doctor, none of whom seemed to take my complaints seriously, I finally found a doctor who had me wear a heart monitor (one with a memory) for one month. Every time I got the feeling, I hit the button, and it recorded the 30 seconds prior to my hitting the button and 30 seconds after. Every time I hit the button (15+ times a month), my heart was beating prematurely. The doctor called these beats PVCs. He prescribed 25 mg. of Atenolol, a beta-blocker, per day. It's a very low dose. I haven't started taking it yet because I want to make sure someone is around when I do, since I'm not taking it for my blood pressure and I know the medication can lower it. My doctor told me that these PVCs are not serious unless lots and lots of them happen in rapid succession over and over again. I was gratified that someone finally found out what was going on and offered some relief, not just from the symptoms, but from the anxiety that follows each occurrence. I've found over the years that most of my episodes occur when I'm sitting still. If I get up and move around, they go away. I wish you the best. Contact me at ***@**** if you need to talk.