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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: PVCs
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.
Re: PVCs
by Cleveland Clinic, MD, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on November 30, 1998 at 09:52:54:
In Reply to: PVCs posted by Kim on November 28, 1998 at 20:34:03:
I am a 43 year old female with mitral valve prolapse and a history of
supraventricular tacycardia (sinus node reentry confirmed by EP study
done this past June). I have been on 400 mg of Sectral (Acebutolol)
for the past two years along with Xanax to control panic disorder. Since
my SVT cannot be ablated due to its location, I've had to live with it
(I'm a college professor). I've always had pvcs (only a few a day).
Recently, I started having them after every meal (no matter how small), even
when I take a drink of water. Also, when I try to exercise (even walk or
change posture they seem to start up. My electrophysiologist increased
the dose of Sectral to 800 mg per day and increased the Xanax. He
also gave me some Prilosec to control the acid in my stomach. He did
this all over the phone and said not to worry, I wouldn't die. My
question is sudden onset pvcs (no svt) after meals and upon mild exertion
seems pretty wierd? I never drink caffeine, smoke, eat choc. or take
over the counter meds. I am extremely educated in what causes my svt
and try to avoid stress (unsuccessfully). Can these pvcs come on all
of a sudden "for no apparent reason". Strangely enough, at night, they go
away when I'm reading and sleeping but reappear the next morning when I
eat breakfast (I'm chewing thoroughly and eating small meals). Could
food allergies have anything to do with pvcs? I eat mostly organic
food and never eat preservatives. Thank you for your help. Kim
___
Dear Kim,
Thank you for your question. PVC's can occur at any time and are precipitated by a wide variety of causes. Sometimes it requires quite a bit of "detective" work on your part to find what works best for you. As far as specific advice about medications we always recommend following your doctor's suggestions.
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
Information provided here is for general educational purposes only. Only your doctor can provide specific diagnoses and treatments. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please Call 1 - 800 - CCF - CARE for an appointment at Desk F15 with a cardiologist
pvc
In Reply to: PVCs posted by Kim on November 28, 1998 at 20:34:03:
I am a 43 year old female with mitral valve prolapse and a history of
supraventricular tacycardia (sinus node reentry confirmed by EP study
done this past June). I have been on 400 mg of Sectral (Acebutolol)
for the past two years along with Xanax to control panic disorder. Since
my SVT cannot be ablated due to its location, I've had to live with it
(I'm a college professor). I've always had pvcs (only a few a day).
Recently, I started having them after every meal (no matter how small), even
when I take a drink of water. Also, when I try to exercise (even walk or
change posture they seem to start up. My electrophysiologist increased
the dose of Sectral to 800 mg per day and increased the Xanax. He
also gave me some Prilosec to control the acid in my stomach. He did
this all over the phone and said not to worry, I wouldn't die. My
question is sudden onset pvcs (no svt) after meals and upon mild exertion
seems pretty wierd? I never drink caffeine, smoke, eat choc. or take
over the counter meds. I am extremely educated in what causes my svt
and try to avoid stress (unsuccessfully). Can these pvcs come on all
of a sudden "for no apparent reason". Strangely enough, at night, they go
away when I'm reading and sleeping but reappear the next morning when I
eat breakfast (I'm chewing thoroughly and eating small meals). Could
food allergies have anything to do with pvcs? I eat mostly organic
food and never eat preservatives. Thank you for your help. Kim
___
Dear Kim,
Thank you for your question. PVC's can occur at any time and are precipitated by a wide variety of causes. Sometimes it requires quite a bit of "detective" work on your part to find what works best for you. As far as specific advice about medications we always recommend following your doctor's suggestions.
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
Information provided here is for general educational purposes only. Only your doctor can provide specific diagnoses and treatments. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please Call 1 - 800 - CCF - CARE for an appointment at Desk F15 with a cardiologist
pvc
