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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Premature ventricular contracions
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Premature ventricular contracions
by Sandra__0__0, Apr 01, 1999 12:00AM
Can PVC occur at any age and is it a matter of concern when it occurs at age 23 to a physically active male with no prior history of heart irregularity?
What medical tests should be taken to confirm diagnosis and cause? Can use of over the counter cold and flu medicines cause such reactions? Over three weeks time the severity of the contractions is decreasing. Eating an evening meal seems to make the contractions harder. How does the digestive system affect the heart?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Cardio MD - MTR, Apr 01, 1999 12:00AM
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Dear Sandra, thank you for your question. PVC's are quite common and can occur at any age. Everyone has PVC's, but some notice PVC's more than others and the frequency of PVC's can be increased in certain people. Common precipitants of PVC's include alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine, but the ingredients in over-the-counter cold medications can also precipitate PVC's. The digestive system may be involved with PVC's due to the vagus nerve which connects to the heart and the stomach. Some people with gastric acid reflux notice more PVC's. The most useful test to determine if you are indeed having PVC's would be a portable cardiac monitor that is worn for 24-48 hours to continuously record your heart rhythm. Other tests could then be done once the results of the cardiac monitor have been interpreted. In someone your age, PVC's are almost always benign and will not harm you in any way. I suggest that you see your physician at this point.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions. Good luck.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
