Pac's and Breathing

  Hello.  I'm a 30 year old male and have had Pac's and Pvc's for about 4 or 5 years.  I've had echo's,ekg, and stress tests that showed that that they are not dangerous arrhythmias.  Lately though it seems that they are brought on more by physical activity, even light activity.  Is it possible that things could have changed and I might need to be tested again.  I know I'm extra nervous about these, but  it's been 3 or 4 years since I've had a test.  My second question is about breathing I always feel like I need to take a deep breath, and sometimes It takes a couple of tries to catch a deep breath.  Doctors in the past have told me it's a habbit and nothing more.  Could my breathing cause the arrhythmias or could the arhythmias cause the weird breathing.  I've always had the weird breathing, but since the pvc's started it seems worse.  Thank's a lot for you response.  This is a great forum you have to help people.

[CCF CARDIO MD APS]

Dear Bob,
PACs AND PVCs are ALWAYS benign, and you don't need but a holter monitor test to tell you that.  As a matter of fact, all people have them, unfortunately some have more and some are simply more aware of them.
Very little research has been done on these skipped beats as they are called and that is because they cause NO HARM. Thus in a sense YOU ARE NOT ILL, i.e. YOU have no 'medical condition'.  In general patients who are bothered by their skipped beats are advised to reduce their stress level and their awareness of the skipped beats as well-if possible.
Unless you have new symptoms that you did not experience at the time of your prior evaluation, you do not need another work up.
I agree with your doctors about the breathing thing, it is a natural reflex, mediated by the brain, to take or feel the need to take plenty of deep breaths throughout each day; again I think your awareness level is simply in the hyperacute category and it would be best for you
to simply "chill out" in regards to these skipped beats and deep breaths.  Good Luck.
Information provided in the heart forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only, actual diagnosis and treatment can only be made by your physician(s).