Re: Hormones and pvcs

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on December 05, 1998 at 15:51:57:

In Reply to: Hormones and pvcs posted by Lisa on November 30, 1998 at 18:02:55:






I am a 32 yr old female with a 2 year old child.  I first noticed pvcs almost a year ago.  I have had them regularly, ranging from every 5-20th beat.  AFter seven months they are almost gone!  Last month my cardiologist put me on atolenol to see if it would help.  I stopped taking it after three weeks, then a week later while on vacation they disappeared.  I'm not sure why?  Perhaps the meds? Perhaps less stress?  I've tried to find the source and sugar and stress definately contribute. However, they are at their worst when I ovulate or am having my period.  Could hormone levels trigger them?  Is there anything I can do to change my hormone levels?  I'd like to have another baby but worry that they will reappear?  I am so glad they are going away, and know that if they reappear I am not going to die.  This forum has really helped me cope and realize that I am normal.  Thank you  






___
Dear Lisa,
Thank you for your question. I believe that hormones can effect PVC's.  As far as what has made them decrease in your case it is hard to say but is probably a combination of the factors that you mentioned.  AS far as having a second child this is also difficult to predict but may be better with the second child.
Below is a brief summary of what a PVC is, what causes them and the treatment (if any) for PVC's.  You can find additional information in an article in New England Journal of Medicine, May 7, 1998, Vol. 338, pages 1369-1374. Your local medical library will have a copy of this.  Hope this helps.
    PVC's (premature ventricular contractions) are "extra" heartbeats occurring out of sync with the normal regular rhythm of the heart.  PVC's may cause no symptoms at all or may be felt as a "irregular" heartbeat or as the sensation of a "hard heartbeat".  PVC's  are common findings in persons with otherwise normal hearts, in which case the prognosis is excellent and there is no decrease at all in life expectancy.  On the other hand, they may indicate that there is an underlying abnormality of the heart muscle (from any number of reasons).  If there is an abnormality, then the prognosis and treatment depends upon the specific problem of the heart.  The usual evaluation of PVC's is a history, physical examination, and electrocardiogram (ECG).  Also your doctor may wish to check an ultrasound of the heart.  If all those tests are normal, then you would fall into the category of people who have PVC's but otherwise no underlying heart problem. In that case, treatment depends on how much the PVC's bother you. If they are essentially asymptomatic, then no treatment is required. If they bother you, then a medication called a "beta-blocker" may reduce the frequency of the PVC's. PVC's can't be "cured", but the medication can decrease their frequency. The potential side effects of beta-blockers are tiredness, impotence in men and breathing difficulties in individuals with underlying lung disease.  Be sure to discuss these issues with your doctor and under no circumstance should you take medications for the heart without the supervision of a doctor.
Below are some web sites with additional information about PVCs.
http://www.amhrt.org/Heart_and_Stroke_A_Z_Guide/prevent.html
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhlbi/cardio/other/gp/arrhyth.htm
http://www.MedicineNet.com/Forum.asp?li=USA&ag=Y&ArticleKey=1946
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.
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.



PVC