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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: Yet another PVC question
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Re: Yet another PVC question
by CCF CARDIO MD DLB, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on September 14, 1998 at 17:18:01:
In Reply to: Yet another PVC question posted by Eric Scarlett on September 14, 1998 at 15:48:31:
Hi. I am a 27 year old male. I was diagnosed with PVC's about 8 months ago. I struggled many days before my cardiologist finally convinced me that they are benign. They really anoy me so my doc prescribed me Atenolol 50mg(I think thats the right name). The Atenolol gave me some pretty bad side effects so he switched me to Toprol 50mg. Niether drug has ceased the PVC's but I guess since it reduces my heart rate and blood pressure, it reduces the strength of the beat after the pause that the heart uses to make up for lost volume. Basically the PVC's feel "less powerfull".
My question is, should I get a second opinion in my specific case. I sometimes giggle(although its not a laughing matter) when I read some of the articles in here. People think they are having bad PVC's if they get 3 or 4 a month. I regularly, on bad days, get 3 or 4 a minute. On good days, I'll only get about 3 an hour. Some days, although very rare, I won't get any at all. I know the general reassurances that docs keep giving poeple about them not killing you and being benign and all. But my case seems different. Not only do I get PVC's, I get bad headaches because of them. I know they are causing the headaches because I can feel my headache get progressivly worse as the PVC's continue. Everytime that beat hits after the pause, I can feel the pain in my head...like pressure. After awhile, this turns into a headache. I also get pain in my neck, on both sides, on top of my juggler veins. It's very weird. If there is ANY kind of experimental treatment for these darn things please let me know. I want the quality of my life to be OK. If I only had 4 a month, that would not be a problem. Sorry I was long.
Thanks
Eric Scarlett
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Dear Eric
If you have had a thorough cardiac evaluation, including such tests as an echocardiogram and a Holter monitor, by a good cardiologist, I am not sure what a second opinion will add. Of course, it may provide you with more reassurance.
PVCs do not cause headaches. Perhaps the same trigger for the headaches causes the PVCs (for example, stress, alcohol, caffeine, elevated blood pressure, etc.).
There are no new treatments for PVCs in the pipeline, as they are not viewed as a serious condition [though they can be very annoying]. Your cardiologist could consider raising your dose of Toprol. There are other medicines to try and suppress PVCs, but the risks generally outweigh the benefits. A cardiologist who specializes in abnormal heart rhythms usually would be the one to prescribe these second-line agents.
I hope this is useful. Feel free to write back. I wish you the best of luck.
If you would like to set up an appointment with one of our cardiologists here at the Cleveland Clinic please feel free to call 1-800-CCF-CARE.
Information provided in the Heart Forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only. Actual diagnosis and treatment of any particular medical condition can only be made by your physician(s).
In Reply to: Yet another PVC question posted by Eric Scarlett on September 14, 1998 at 15:48:31:
Hi. I am a 27 year old male. I was diagnosed with PVC's about 8 months ago. I struggled many days before my cardiologist finally convinced me that they are benign. They really anoy me so my doc prescribed me Atenolol 50mg(I think thats the right name). The Atenolol gave me some pretty bad side effects so he switched me to Toprol 50mg. Niether drug has ceased the PVC's but I guess since it reduces my heart rate and blood pressure, it reduces the strength of the beat after the pause that the heart uses to make up for lost volume. Basically the PVC's feel "less powerfull".
My question is, should I get a second opinion in my specific case. I sometimes giggle(although its not a laughing matter) when I read some of the articles in here. People think they are having bad PVC's if they get 3 or 4 a month. I regularly, on bad days, get 3 or 4 a minute. On good days, I'll only get about 3 an hour. Some days, although very rare, I won't get any at all. I know the general reassurances that docs keep giving poeple about them not killing you and being benign and all. But my case seems different. Not only do I get PVC's, I get bad headaches because of them. I know they are causing the headaches because I can feel my headache get progressivly worse as the PVC's continue. Everytime that beat hits after the pause, I can feel the pain in my head...like pressure. After awhile, this turns into a headache. I also get pain in my neck, on both sides, on top of my juggler veins. It's very weird. If there is ANY kind of experimental treatment for these darn things please let me know. I want the quality of my life to be OK. If I only had 4 a month, that would not be a problem. Sorry I was long.
Thanks
Eric Scarlett
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Eric
If you have had a thorough cardiac evaluation, including such tests as an echocardiogram and a Holter monitor, by a good cardiologist, I am not sure what a second opinion will add. Of course, it may provide you with more reassurance.
PVCs do not cause headaches. Perhaps the same trigger for the headaches causes the PVCs (for example, stress, alcohol, caffeine, elevated blood pressure, etc.).
There are no new treatments for PVCs in the pipeline, as they are not viewed as a serious condition [though they can be very annoying]. Your cardiologist could consider raising your dose of Toprol. There are other medicines to try and suppress PVCs, but the risks generally outweigh the benefits. A cardiologist who specializes in abnormal heart rhythms usually would be the one to prescribe these second-line agents.
I hope this is useful. Feel free to write back. I wish you the best of luck.
If you would like to set up an appointment with one of our cardiologists here at the Cleveland Clinic please feel free to call 1-800-CCF-CARE.
Information provided in the Heart Forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only. Actual diagnosis and treatment of any particular medical condition can only be made by your physician(s).
