PVC's

[Melp]

I'm 33 and in good health.  I started having PVC's after my son was born 11 years ago.  For the most part they have not bothered me but the last few days they have become more frequent.  They only happen after I have come to rest (setting, laying down).  They generally last about an hour at night and happen about every 10 to 20 seconds then slow down till they stop.  The last few days though they are happening almost every other heart beat and I've been feeling a little strange.
I have had a heart monitor, had EKG's, had an ultrasound, and blood tests but they can't seem to figure it out.  Of course this was a few years ago.  Should I go back and have all those tests run again or is this something that will more than likely pass?
Thanks

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Melp,

Thanks for the post.

PVCs are very common, and while not usually harmful, can be quite distressing.  In patients who have normal hearts, PVCs do not carry any increased risk of a bad outcome.  If your symptoms have not changed appreciably since your last tests (other than the increased frequency of the PVCs), then you likely need simple follow-up with your internist.

Why have your PVCs increased of late?  Who knows!  Some exacerbators can exist, such as alcohol, caffeine, stimulants, hyperthyroidism, etc.  But more than likely, you have simply developed an increased propensity for the PVCs that will never be easily understood.

Some therapies are available if you are really distressed by the PVCs.  Medical therapy is usually with beta-blockers, which help some, but not all.  Yoga, bio-feedback, tai-chi, and stress reduction are helpful for some.

Hope that helps.

[kate38]

Hankstar,


Hankstar, sound like your very knowledgable about PVC's.

I've been awakened by PVC's, along with bloody noses,headaches,  somtimes sharp chest pains,with a pulse of a 140. I figure the chest pains are related to my asthma and the bloody noses and headaches to my blood pressure,I don't know what causes the PVC's,they happen mostly at night but not every night and only occasional during the day time.

Do you just have to live with the PVC's or can somthing be done,do you happened to know what causes them.

I read on one of the post, that you where in the pharmactical business for 18 years, Maybe you can answer a couple of question, if you would'nt mind. Have you ever heard of calcium channel blockers causing a paradoxical effect on the blood pressure or lisinopril causing PVC's in some people.

Thanks
  K
Have a wonderful day!!!!!
:) :)

[kate38]

Hankstar,

Thanks for the information.

Actually, I think the rapid pulse was from going down so quickly on the metoprolol.Went from 250mg daily to 100mg daily.Thats just my opinion.(doctor supervised)

Also, I understand what your saying about drugs being pulled off the market.I was on Baycol, for about four months had alot of problems taking it. Was changed to Lipitor same thing happened with that one.(muscle weakness etc..) Soooo just quit taking.
However, a few months ago I was put on mevocor,so far I seem to be doing ok with it.

I kinda don't have a doctor right now, I didn't feel to  comfortable with the one i was seeing. So just continuing to take what he prescribed until I can find a new doctor.

Just one more question if you don't mind. You mentioned a drug call coreg,do you know much about it, I was just wondering because that was given as a possible option.

Your right it is comforting to talk to others,helps to reduce the stressfulness of the situation. And I don't hold you to any of the information. I do appreciate you talking with me though.
now that I pretty much told you my life history, I will leave you alone.

Thanks sooo much
You have a great day.
K :) :)

[kate38]

Hankstar,

I have problem with drug sensitivity (dyes in the drugs etc...) I actually had to change my thyroid medication,because it.  

I was first put on lisinopril could not handle the side effects,atenolol had asthma issues,norvasc,was told I had a paradoxical response. Was having very high readings, so I ended up on minoxidil,diuretec and labetalol.Wonderful readings, however,then my asthma became a major problem again.  

It has been a very difficult process for both the doctor and myself.And I was told nothing more could be done.

I'm taking catapres patch .3,Metoprolol 100mg,tiazac 360mg,
diovan 320mg,minoxidil 5mg and 2 diuretics.Although the minoxidil dose is lower then it used to be. But now it seems I'm  having problems with the catapres patch.(scratchy red marks with small blister)I'm a little concerned about saying anything. So I  talked to the pharmacist,he reccommended maybe moving it around a few times. At this point I'm willing to try
just about anything.

Probably a little more information than you wanted to know,
sorry.

Thanks again
See u around
K :)

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Fred,

Actually I've read many of your posts -- through happenstance I have just not been the one to answer your questions.  But that's ok, I take no offense to you not remembering me.

I do however take a little offense at the suggestion that I am basing my opinion on anecdotal evidence.  Perish the thought!

There are 3 major studies that have shown increased risk of mortality in patients with PVCs, the Tecumseh study, a subanalysis of the MRFIT study, and a study from the Framingham database.  These trials all suffer from "selection bias" -- the nature of the patients is that they are at increased risk of having coronary artery disease.  Statisticians are able to help us attempt to account for this phenomenon, but the statistical corrections are inadequate.  Furthermore, the patients in these studies are not at all like the majority of the people who use this site -- young, otherwise healthy, with symptomatic PVCs.

The trial you mentioned is even worse!  The Veterans, God love them, have horrendous cardiovascular disease and are thus subject to a huge selection bias.

Now, ventricular ectopy after exercise is a totally different beast.  Sympathetic activity is highest after exercise, a state very different from rest PVCs.  I work in the lab that produced these results, and again these patients are very different from the patients seen on this site -- average age 60 with nearly half having coronary artery disease!

There is a long-winded answer if ever I gave one.

Hope that helps.

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Fred,

Here are a couple of studies demonstrating the frequency with which PVCs occur in normal individuals.  I will stress that these studies are also subject to selection bias -- however the individuals in this study are more similiar to the majority of our readers.

Many more studies exist showing similiar findings.  A quick search of Pubmed should satify your curiosity.

Thanks for the informed comments.

Hope this helps.

(1) Arrhythmias documented by 24-hour continuous ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring in young women without apparent heart disease. Sobotka PA; Mayer JH; Bauernfeind RA; Kanakis C Jr; Rosen KM.  Am Heart J 1981 Jun;101(6):753-9.

Results are reported of 24-hour ambulatory ECG recordings in 50 young women without apparent heart disease. Thirty-two subjects (64%) had atrial premature beats, with only one subject (2%) having greater than 100 beats/24 hrs. Twenty-seven subjects (54%) had ventricular premature beats, with only three subjects (6%) having greater than 50 beats/24 hrs.

(2) Arrhythmias documented by 24 hour continuous electrocardiographic monitoring in 50 male medical students without apparent heart disease. Brodsky M; Wu D; Denes P; Kanakis C; Rosen KM. Am J Cardiol 1977 Mar;39(3):390-5.

Results are reported of portable 24 hour dynamic electrocardiographic monitoring in 50 male medical students without cardiovascular disease, as defined by normal clinical and noninvasive cardiovascular examination. Of 25 patients (50 percent) having premature ventricular contractions, only 1 (2 percent) had more than 50 such contractions (86) in 24 hours.

[valger]

Hi everyone, I found the above info to be very helpful, and just had a couple of questions.  I am 43 years old, and I get PVC's each and every day, and usually several in one minute.  I will go sometimes where I'm either not feeling them, or they are just not bothering me as much, but for instance, as I sit here and type this, I would guess that I'm having one at least every 20 beats or so, sometimes it's even more frequent than that.  I've been having these for about 10 years, and they have increased in frequency over the last year.  I have had an extrememly stressful year, because my Dad passed away, and also am going through menopause.  I guess my question is, do you think the amount I'm having is dangerous?  I get them at rest, and mostly after exercise, I don't know if I don't feel them during exercise, or if I'm just not having them.  I've had the thallium stress test, which came out good, and echo's, and all that.  The echo's were a while ago, maybe I should go in for another one of those.  I have just gotten used to them, and go about my day with alot of them, but maybe this is a dangerous attitude.  I don't know if it's a good thing, to go on with my life, and not let them disrupt what I do, or to be more cautious with them.  The thing is, I spent so many years going to ER's, and panicking over them, that it is kind of nice to ignore them, do you think that is ok?  The holters I have had don't show anything dangerous, and just the doctor's say they are benign PVC's, but I haven't had a holter when I have been getting so many as I do now.  The last holter showed like less than 10 I think in 24 hours, and now it's like that many in a minute, which gradually increased.  Thanks for any advice!!  By the way, I feel pretty good otherwise, just overweight right now, don't know if that is a connection.  Thanks!!  Val

[Linda123]

What a brilliant thought, Hankstar, I'm all for that!  If only they could create such a drug, wouldn't life be wonderful.  
Best Wishes, Linda

[broggie]

During the last few weeks my PVC's have come back with a vengeance, damn the health service in this country (UK), they send me forms for the renewal of a benefit that I have had for the last three years and I tell them NOT to go to my doctor as they will get nowhere and get inaccurate information (I dont see him anymore because he is so useless) and to send a doctor around like they did before.
So they take no notice of the forms I filled in and write to my doctor, get the inaccurate information, then tell me that I dont meet the criteria for the benefit, so I have to fight again just as I had to three years ago (it took a year then).  So anyway through all this I got my PVC's back again (several a minute), all I can say is I'm pretty fed up.

Ray.

Ps... saying PVC's may kill people will not help anxious individuals who use this site......

[valger]

Thanks for that, it certainly makes me feel better!  I just worry that I could have some type of cardiomyopathy.  The thing is, I've had these PVC's for over 10 years now, and in that time, I have had Echo's, which came out fine, and all kinds of other testing done.  Wouldn't those tests show a cardiomyopathy?  The reason I worry sometimes is because of the frequency of mine (sometimes during the day it's every few beats) and also my Dad passed away from restrictive cardiomyopathy when he was 69, about one year ago.  The doctors are not sure what caused his, but they think it might have been an infiltrative disease, such as amyloidosis.  They say it's rarely hereditary, and a vary rare disease.  It must be a rare thing, cause my Dad was in excellent health, and was even a runner, he ate great, didn't smoke or do anything unhealthy.  He used to lecture us about eating right, and tried to encourage us to be healthy.  I miss him so much, and the force he was in our lives.  Oops sorry about that, I'm going on and on here.  Anyway, my point was just to say that sometimes I worry that I could also have cardiomyopathy.  I am tired alot would be my other symptom.  I am a 43 year old female, I don't smoke or drink, but I am overweight.  Thanks for any advice!!  Val  P.S.  I am not on any meds for the palps since they make it worse for me...just one aspirin a day for a small episode of atrial fib that I had once.  Thanks!!!

[valger]

Thank you for your comments, I am actually surprised that you have heard of amyloidosis, most people have never heard of it.  I am not sure what it is that you have, but it does make you at increased risk for amyloidosis?  Supposedely amyloid is a very rare disease, it's actually very rare in the U.S.  Although, when my Dad went to see a specialist at Stanford University in California, he said that he is seeing more of it lately.  So, you think I should have an echo every few years?  I would be due then, since it's probably been at least that long.  I am nervous, though, that it could be cardiomyopathy causing my palps.  But, reading these posts makes me feel better, like it's more likely something not as dangerous as that.  Also, it seems kind of common to have them, and also I've been having them for over ten years, so it seems like some type of cardiomyopathy would have shown up by now.  Does the thallium stress test show if you had a cardiomyopathy?  Because I took that recently, and it came out fine.  A stressful test to take, though, for someone with PVC's.  Just the positions I had to sit in, and not move, and at the time I was having bad palps.  Have you ever heard of frequent PVC's actually causing some kind of heart failure?  Anyway, thanks so much for the help, and good luck to you!  Thanks for saying that about my Dad, you are so lucky to have your Dad, I thought I'd have mine until he was very old.  He was just so healthy until six months before he died.  I would give anything to have him back right now.  My Mom is totally lost without him, it's so sad, and we live in different states.  Well, sorry to go on and on here, thanks again!!  Val

[broggie]

Thanks for that...Problem is My mother Died in February at 81 of Bronchial pneumonia/congestive heart failure/coronary artery disease as recorded on the death certificate, and my Dad has Angina pectoris...so that puts me I guess right in the frame for CAD. Weird thing is my cholesterol has always been low, dont know about my dad (we dont talk)...it just seems to me at times that the only way I'm going to get through to these people is hand out a few slaps....I'm so tired of being patient and nice and getting absolutely nowhere...

Thank God my Doctor retires at the end of this month, maybe once he's gone things might change.


Ray.

[jespinks]

I'm a little concerned after seeing this post....I started having PVC's this past January after the birth of my son...I'm 32 yrs. old and otherwise healthy.  I've had an echo and holter done and it showed structurally normal heart and normal sinus rythym with moderate PVC's (About 4,000 during the 24 hour period)...within the last month my pvc's had really diminished like down to a few per day rather than few per minute)...This week however they have returned with a vengeance...I too was told it was a benign condition and to try to put them out of mind.  Now this post has me full of anxiety.  Should I have any other tests done?  In cases where pvc's are not benign, what could they indicate?  Please help relieve my stress over this!
Thanks! Jen

[valger]

Hi, I just wanted to say that it does help me when I hear about PVC's being benign, because alot of this is a mindset.  One of the above posts says that it dosen't help anxious people on this site to hear how PVC's are not dangerous, and while I see what that person is saying, expressing the frustration of the lack of information on these things, I have to say that it definitely helps me to the extent of being able to live my life!  Without this board easing my fears, I would probably be spending my life in the ER!  Really, I don't even get as much info from my doctors as I do on here.  In fact, now that I've been learning things on here for some time now, I go into my doctors with questions that even he is surprised to hear me ask, like "how do you know about that"??  Anyway, I have very frequent PVC's, and get really sick of them, but am staying away from medication only because of my reassurance that they are benign.  I have had numerous tests, the only one I think I'm due for again is an Echo, it's been a few years since I've had one of those.  My Dad died suddenly from restrictive cardiomyopathy caused by what they think is amyloidosis, so I am concerned about that being genetic, and I think an Echo would help rule anything like that out.  However, his specialist that he saw at Stanford in California said his type of cardiomyopathy was not hereditary, there are several different types I guess.  He was a very healthy man, until he got swollen ankles, shortness of breath, and died six months later at 69.  He was even a runner, ate very well, didn't smoke or drink, and just generally was in excellent health.  Sorry, by the way, if I'm repeating myself, I may have mentioned this already in an above post, but I don't remember.  Thanks for all the help on here, I don't know what I would do without you guys!!  Thanks, Val

[starling97]

Hi hankstar, I just wanted to let you know that I have followed your posts for quite some time now. The advise that you have given has helped me so many times!! I too suffer from these terrible pvc's. I had four in a row show up on a holter, and was told that it was benign. That is so hard to believe when they feel so horrible! Anyway I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday!! Mine is the day before yours Nov.2nd. I will be 44!!Have a wonderfull day!....Sylvia.

[jespinks]

Hi again....

     Thank you for all the encouraging words you've posted since I last posted....It does help relieve some of the anxiety.  I had a couple more questions but can never get through to the doctors on this site....It's a busy place!  

     Are an echo and a holter test sufficient or should I seek any additional tests?  The echo came back normal and holter showed normal sinus rythym with moderate PVC's....All of this started for me right after the birth of my one and only son last November...Did it throw my horomones out of whack?  Is my blood chemistry out of whack? (I've had bloodwork done since and no one brought any problems to my attention) I'm beginning to think my epidural or some other medication has caused problems for my symp and parasymp systems????  Any thoughts?  Thanks again! Jen :)

[jespinks]

Hank,

I did have a csection with an epidural! I am convinced that is it!        Are there different types of epidurals?  I don't know if mine was adrenaline...But I would imagine so the way I was shaking Uncontrollably!...I just assumed the anesthesiologist knewwhat they were doing...Wouldn't the pvc's subside 10months later? Haven't tried a betablocker as I was trying to deal with it without medicine, but might have to go to that.

Could it have damaged whatever controls adrenaline release in my body?  Ioften feel shaky and nervous.  Thanks somuch Hank!  Jen

[jespinks]

Interesting Hank!...So did this person's PVCs and tachycardia stop altogether after 2 years?  It's amazing that adrenaline from anepidural can stay in one's tissues for that long of a time. I was awake during my csection and epidural and I was numbed from my eyeballs to my toes and SHOOK violently after they upped the epidural in preparation for my csection.  Think I'll call my doc and try the betablocker....or should I go with an anti-anxiety med?....(Don't they block the release of adrenaline in your system?)  Thanks again Hank! Jen

[I'mallheart]

last night while having sex with wife my heart was goin crazy,infact while laying there as she was close to my chest she was also worroed why she could feel my heart go that hard and fast,,,is this okay,it lasted for awhile.then tried to go to sleep and kept feeling heart pound

[pitterpatter]

Hello everyone!

I am a 27 yr. old female who began having what my doctor called "episodes" about 5 yrs. ago.  At that time, chest x-rays, EKg's, blood tests, and a holster moniter were used to determine the cause of these episodes.  Nothing was found.  About 2 yrs. later, my new doctor found a systolic heart mumur (which I am told is benign) and repeated the EKG, all to no avail.  At that time, the "episodes" were only occurring maybe once a month, and without pain.  Recently, I went to the emergency room for these "episodes" because all of a sudden they were occurring repeatedly and I was having chest pain.  The ER doctors found nothing wrong, even though I could feel the difference within myself.  Luckily, the ER doctor sent me home with a holster monitor.  Today at my follow-up appointment my doctor told me that these episodes were PVC. Since I am overweight and because of a significant family history (explained later), my (new-again!)doctor has always checked my cholesterol and my thyroid.  The tests that the ER ran showed that all of a sudden I have hypothyroidism and increased cholestrol (226).  My doctor put me on thyroid medicine.  I am  following up in 2 months for a cholestrerol and thyroid check.  The doctor says if the thyroid is OK with the medication, and I am still having frequent PVC's, I can try a beta-blocker.  
Now, here are my questions:

1.) Is there a known or suggested connection between hypothyroidism and/or cholesterol levels and/or overweight individuals?  If so, what are the chances that regulating my thyroid will reduce my PVC occurences?  

2.) I know that reducing my weight might reduce my cholesterol, but will it reduce the PVC's?  That is, has there been a link to overweight people who have PVC's and then lose weight reducing their PVC's (if weight is even considered a cause/link)?

3.) Will I always have to take medicine for my thyroid?  

4.) Are beta-blockers harmful at all? That is, I do not want to take an unnecessary medicine for a "cosmetic" reason.  

5.) My doctor said that stress is thought to be a trigger-so, if the beta-blocker reduces the PVC's- will the reduction in anxiety from that alone -reduce the PVC's further?  I hope that just by knowing that there is a benign reason for the "episodes" will reduce my anxiety about them and in return lesson the PVC's.  Wishful thinking?

Now, my family history is this:

Maternal grandfather: Quadruple bypass and angioplasty;died at 68 "from" Parkinson's disease.History of being overweight, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Maternal grandmother: History of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, being overweight.Died of lung, then bone cancer at age 77.(Smoker)

MOTHER:  Heart attack at age 46-double bypass followed immediately (after 6 weeks of healing) by abdominal aorta section replaced.  History of smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight.Still alive and still smoking herself to an early grave.

Maternal Aunt: At age 40, doctor found abnormal aorta valve thought to be from birth-a "simple" valve replacement turned into a coma for 6 weeks and now has congestive heart failure;poor circulation;pain in legs, etc.  History of being overweight.Smoker.

Maternal Uncle: Obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol.Smoker.



Sister: Hyerthyroidism diagnosed at age 18.

MYSELF: Blood pressure always OK -today it was 118/80, cholesterol creeping up (along with my weight) recently, semi-active lifestyle-walk well over 2 miles per day at work, have active 11 yr old boy; now the hypothyroidism.I DO NOT SMOKE.My stress level is lower than it has been in many years (this is why the stress factor is so confusing to me) -before the recent increase in PVCs.  What are the other possible triggers?

****Needless to say, I need to lose weight and get the cholesterol back down (even at 120 lbs, cholesterol was 199), but SHOULD I be concerned about any of these heart problems more than before because of the PVC's?  I know they are said to be benign in almost all cases, but are there any tests/precautions I should take?  I realize that my family has a propensity towards heart disease factors, but they are mostly controllable with medications, etc.  I believe it is the difference in lifestyles (they are not active and they smoke and eat a lot of fast and fried foods)or possibly age that has kept me in a fairly normal cholesterol level (up until now) and normal blood pressure.  As a side note, my blood pressure was elevated at the ER (155/90) but I was scared !!!!!


There is my life and family's life story!  I there anyone who can answer any of these questions...are you guys still awake?

[pitterpatter]

Thabks for the advice and info!  Hopefully the synthroid my doctor prescribed will work and eventually my PVC's will go back to being infrequent.  If not, I will try the beta blocker.  Glad to hear that they are safe.  Good luck with your PVC's and hope you find a way to feel better.

Pitterpatter

[GES]

I thank you for your postings.  I am a 33 year old male in excellent shape except for PVCs.  I have had them for a few years and in the last year it seems like I have an increase.  I get them every third beat almost all day and I have an increase while working out.  I went to two different cardiologists and they did all the tests on me and gave me a clean bill of health. I hate to take drugs, so I would refuse any drugs for this problem.  My question is if I am getting them every third beat is this something I should be concerned with?  I work a very stressful and high speed job, and I must have a clear mind to operate under stress.  Is there something significant about the occurence of a PVC every third beat?

[GES]

Hey thanks for the quick response,  but unfortunately in my line of work, valium is not allowed.  I tried a few beta blockers and a calcium blocker but they fatigued me.  I guess I will just try to ignore them.  I read in a previous post, you also get PVCs during workouts with no ill effects and this made me feel better.  Thanks again

Also my job entails a great deal of risk and a many hours of flying so if that helps anyone with a fear of flying I have thousands of PVCs while on the aircrafts.  Remember every aircraft is equipt with an AED and also every airport has multiple units (AEDs), so flying is the safest way to travel for heart patients. I know a lot of people ask you questions about flying so you can pass that along. stay safe and happy.

[GES]

The average commerical aircraft is only pressurized to 8000ft., thus less oxygen.  Also you do develop nitrogen in your blood stream after a flight, so maybe there could be an effect on the number of PVCs. I am not a pilot or a member of a flight crew, but my job is classified and I fly a tremendous amount.  I need to retire to the islands too, but that is not possible now.