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Lately I had been getting very bad attacks of pvc's after exercise, not during exercise but only after. This would last all night and discouraged me from continuing my exercise program. My doctor gave me a low dose of Inderal 10mg which I take at the start of my 1 hour workout and when i'm done I have only a few pvc's, which I can tolerate. I also take the medication a 1/2 hour before a meal because eating also gives me bad pvc's.
My PVC's also started in my 30's, were horrible while pregnant, and still bother me now that I am 40. I have also done some of the items that you listed. I have eliminated sugar, I too am hypoglycemic, so I eat every 2 to 2-1/2 hours to maintain my blood sugar. I'm wondering do you exercise at all? My doctor tells me that I need to start exercising. But, he also warns that the PVC's will get worst before they get better from the exercise. This is a hump I can't seem to get past. I try to exercise, but then am discouraged by the amount of PVC's I will have that evening, etc.
I've seen a lot of questions about PVCs on this forum, and wanted to add my own experience. I developed PVCs in my 30s and they seemed to increase with pregnancy. In my 40s they became more frequent, and I found them both irritating and alarming. I had the Holter monitor, which revealed that they were the benign variety. That was reassuring, but they still drove me nuts.
Today, in my 50s, I don't have them at all, unless I happen to have a fever, which is rare. I eliminated them by doing several things:
1. I gave up caffeine, sugar, aspartame (Nutra-Sweet), and other sugar substitutes.
2. I became vigilant about keeping my blood sugar at an even level, and not letting it drop between meals. (I have hypoglycemia.) A low-carb diet helped a lot with this.
3. Through trial and error, I learned which foods caused PVCs for me, and eliminated them from my diet. In my case, they included dairy products, potatoes, and eggplant, among others.
4. I include calcium, magnesium, vitamin E, and B vitamins in my daily supplements.
Hope this helps someone.
Alisande
Today, in my 50s, I don't have them at all, unless I happen to have a fever, which is rare. I eliminated them by doing several things:
1. I gave up caffeine, sugar, aspartame (Nutra-Sweet), and other sugar substitutes.
2. I became vigilant about keeping my blood sugar at an even level, and not letting it drop between meals. (I have hypoglycemia.) A low-carb diet helped a lot with this.
3. Through trial and error, I learned which foods caused PVCs for me, and eliminated them from my diet. In my case, they included dairy products, potatoes, and eggplant, among others.
4. I include calcium, magnesium, vitamin E, and B vitamins in my daily supplements.
Hope this helps someone.
Alisande
Appreciate your post! I am Military, and have had pvcs for 16 years (38 yoa now). Sometimes it is difficult resigning ourselves to a chronic condition, especially since we are in a "macho" environment such as the military, where zero defects--physically and mentally--are expected. I have my good days, and bad days dealing with these things. It is this site and these comments that provide strength to carry on. Obi.
Thanks for your post! I am still in the military too, and have had PVCs for 16 years (38 yoa now). Given the "macho" profession we are in, it is difficult to come to grips with this chronic condition. It has definitely played head games with me! Anyway, this website has been a God Send, and posts such as yours keeps us going through the tough moments. Take care and keep em' flying. Obiwan001
Hello Peter,
Thanks for your reassuring post!
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Bey, ***Ianna***
Thanks for your reassuring post!
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Bey, ***Ianna***
Hello all, I was searching for the subject ectopic heartbeats and came accross this site. Be assured that ectopic heartbeats are normal in all. For some reason, some of us develope more accute ectopic beats. I am 49, 75 kgs (160lbs), very fit (I run a mean 7 minute mile), resting pulse 50-52, PB 135 over 82. I have had PVC's for 18 months now. My aviation consultant has given me a full bill of health (I have an aviation medical every six months). Physical exercise usually helps when I have an attack. Attacks are usually brought on by:
a. Stress - then increased by having the attack, the mind plays great games on you even though you know your fit and well.
b. Various foods, such as white wine, coffee, chocolate (caffine again) and cheese. Why cheese, I don't know, but it is a trigger with me.
The bottom line, although you get theses attacks. Try to rationalise, relax you are not about to die!, try to chill out, do someting to take your mind off it (when I do this the attack goes). I am still flying both military and civil and they would not let me do this if I was about to kick the bucket. Here's to you all, enjoy your long life. Peter.
a. Stress - then increased by having the attack, the mind plays great games on you even though you know your fit and well.
b. Various foods, such as white wine, coffee, chocolate (caffine again) and cheese. Why cheese, I don't know, but it is a trigger with me.
The bottom line, although you get theses attacks. Try to rationalise, relax you are not about to die!, try to chill out, do someting to take your mind off it (when I do this the attack goes). I am still flying both military and civil and they would not let me do this if I was about to kick the bucket. Here's to you all, enjoy your long life. Peter.
I have had PVC's for almost 20 years with no serious side effects. Last year I was extremely tired and had shortness of breath. After seeing a cardiologist I found out I had Atrial fibrillation (extremely rapid heart beat) which is not that common in a person in their 50"s with no apparent heart disease. I do not use caffene, tobacco, and only occasionally use alcohol. I underwent a Cardio conversion (electrical shock of the heart) and both the fibrillation and the pvc's have disappeared. I am taking Flecainide (which controls your heart beat) and Coumadin (blood thinner) for a few months. Thought this information may be helpfull.
Woops, just a mistake, not "Cod", but "God". I rather must look at keyboard while writing.
I think you are absolutely right. And, we must all should remember that there are several risk factor for future coronary disease, some of them we can control (correct alimentation, weight, exercise, controling BP, etc.) others don't (age, sex, race, familiar heritage, etc.), and exercise induced frequent PVC are another factor, not more, neither less important as the other, I think. Cod bless us all.
I have suffered with PVCs for over 16 years (37 yoa now). Some are mild; some are potent "thumpers" which have associated pain of short duration, and even a few that trigger panic symptoms. I would be lying if I said I do not fear them, but I think Jose is right, we cannot live in a contant state of fear and obsession over them. They are part of our wiring, and the Drs., as good as they are, will never be able to assure us of a 100% excellent prognosis.
Coronary artery disease or worse may be in our future, however, I believe the debate we have here, and the support we give each other allows us the ability to live in the moment--after all this moment is all everyone of us has, true? I share your worry, but also I share the hope and camraderie of this forum. May God bless us all, and may an answer be found to "cure" pvcs. Peace of mind to you all. Obiwan001.
Coronary artery disease or worse may be in our future, however, I believe the debate we have here, and the support we give each other allows us the ability to live in the moment--after all this moment is all everyone of us has, true? I share your worry, but also I share the hope and camraderie of this forum. May God bless us all, and may an answer be found to "cure" pvcs. Peace of mind to you all. Obiwan001.
I understand your point of view. I think that Dr(s)refer to some more risk in exercise induced frequent PVC, and not to PVC not in exercise, based in statistic studies, but your view about the physics of the circulatory system also seems logical. Although there are several medical opinions about harmless of PVC's, the most, and in the most places over the world, state that they are not malign if no heart disease is present. I trend to agree with them that PVC are harmless in this situations, and I ALSO THINK THAT THIS WAY OF THINKING IS ALSO THE BEST WAY TO OUR MIND IN ORDER TO IMPROVE OUR HEALTH STATE, despite I agree that they may be a marker for some not excelent prognostic, maybe in a wider horizon, since that's not the normal electric functioning of our heart (that's common sense). Well, by other way, we can also think that we are not exactly a machine, but humans, so, we are not all exactly the same, and our heart doesn't have to be like a clock. :-)
I am also not a doctor. If you think about it, how does your body differentiate between excercise induced PVC's and other PVC's? They would have the same effect on your body. Your arteries are not crazy about uneven flow rates or accelerations of blood. This is why arteriosclerosis occurs more readily in the curves and bends of your arteries than the straight portions. A huge contraction of your heart after it is reset after a PVC cannot be good! The doctors in this forum like to sugar coat the prognosis for frequent PVC sufferers because they cannot do much about them right now. The drugs available are mediocre and they feel ablation is too risky for the potential gain.
By the way, does anyone know what type of arrhythmia Lance Bass had? I understand he had an ablation procedure so he would be allowed to travel in space.
By the way, does anyone know what type of arrhythmia Lance Bass had? I understand he had an ablation procedure so he would be allowed to travel in space.
Dear friend,
Of course I'm not a Dr., but by what I read in Dr. answer, the increased risk is only applyed to one with much PVC's exercise induced, not to everybody with PVC's. Look at the following text, seems of interest -> http://heartdisease.about.com/library/weekly/aa011501a.htm
Of course I'm not a Dr., but by what I read in Dr. answer, the increased risk is only applyed to one with much PVC's exercise induced, not to everybody with PVC's. Look at the following text, seems of interest -> http://heartdisease.about.com/library/weekly/aa011501a.htm
Whoa ! The truth starts to come out about PVC's. Now all of a sudden we are at 3 times the risk of developing coronary heart disease ? What happened to the "benign" prognosis. Or is this the horse before the cart scenario. Perhaps people with artery disease are 3 times more prone to get PVC's ? This would make sense because it seems most people develop these later in life, around the time our North American diet starts to clog the old pipes.
I would like to post an experience I've had with drugs that induced PVC's in me which puzzled doctors and the pharmaceutical companies that sell them. I developed wicked uncontrollable PVC's for five months last winter. I have mild to moderate asthma which was under control completely with Flovent. Excellent product, unfortunately every rose has its thorns. It came to my attention that my PVC's disappeared when I got a cold. I then realised that it was the only time I stopped using my Flovent steroids! Either the steroids themselves changed the chemistry of my body, or the aerosol propellant was toxic to me. My PVC's frequency went to near zero throughout the summer, until the fall came and I tried another inhaled steroid, budesonide. This product does not have a propellant. Sure enough they came back with a vengeance.
Has anybody else had an experience with corticosteroids like this? Naturally , Glaxowellcome and Astrazeneca deny everything. They have a hotline where you can report side effects of there drugs to them. This is like keeping an elephant in charge of the peanuts !
I would like to post an experience I've had with drugs that induced PVC's in me which puzzled doctors and the pharmaceutical companies that sell them. I developed wicked uncontrollable PVC's for five months last winter. I have mild to moderate asthma which was under control completely with Flovent. Excellent product, unfortunately every rose has its thorns. It came to my attention that my PVC's disappeared when I got a cold. I then realised that it was the only time I stopped using my Flovent steroids! Either the steroids themselves changed the chemistry of my body, or the aerosol propellant was toxic to me. My PVC's frequency went to near zero throughout the summer, until the fall came and I tried another inhaled steroid, budesonide. This product does not have a propellant. Sure enough they came back with a vengeance.
Has anybody else had an experience with corticosteroids like this? Naturally , Glaxowellcome and Astrazeneca deny everything. They have a hotline where you can report side effects of there drugs to them. This is like keeping an elephant in charge of the peanuts !
I understand your concern and appreciate the wonderful cardiologist's that visit this site as well.
At 27 I would average 4 pvc's, a couple svt's, pac's on a holter and Now up to 500. Having faith in your cardiologist and good tests can be helpful for both heart and nervous system.
I wondered as well which are more of a concern :
Pvc's hundreds on a treadmill or sleeping with a slow heart rate 42.
Enjoy learning and Sharing here.
At 27 I would average 4 pvc's, a couple svt's, pac's on a holter and Now up to 500. Having faith in your cardiologist and good tests can be helpful for both heart and nervous system.
I wondered as well which are more of a concern :
Pvc's hundreds on a treadmill or sleeping with a slow heart rate 42.
Enjoy learning and Sharing here.
Dear friend,
As you could see, if you read them with attention, the questions are not the same. Of course I asked my Dr. but the opinion of these top cardiologists in Cleveland Clinic are very important to all, as you also know. We all have our specific problems, despite they seem to be the same.
As you could see, if you read them with attention, the questions are not the same. Of course I asked my Dr. but the opinion of these top cardiologists in Cleveland Clinic are very important to all, as you also know. We all have our specific problems, despite they seem to be the same.
I'm sorry to hear of your troubles with PVC's, but if you keep asking the same person the same question, you're going to keep getting the same answer. If you're not happy with the answers you're getting from medhelp, maybe you should talk to your doc about it or something.
Dear Jose,
Sorry to hear about the discomfort that PVCs are causing you. PVCs in the setting of a structurally normal heart are not suggestive of anything serious. You have a structurally normal heart and therefore I think it is unlikely that your PVCs are indicative of anything ominous. PVCs may be classified as pathologic by some simply because they are abnormal. When a physician sees an ECG with a PVC, he/she may not know the patient. The reference to them as being pathologic may be to stimulate a further investigation by the person's own physician.
Exercise induced PVCs can be associated with increased risk for blockages in the heart arteries. If a person develops PVCs occurring in more than 10% of beats in any 1 minute or more than 3 beats in a row, they may be at increased risk. PVCs may occur in approximately 1/3 of asymptomatic men performing a maximal treadmill test. A subgroup of healthy men (~2%) will have severe exercise induced PVCs which is associated with 3 times the risk of developing coronary artery disease.
Anxiety may be a factor which may lead to an increase in PVCs, along with increased awareness. Thanks for your interesting questions. Based on our conversation I think you are in a low risk category. You will never be able to find a doctor who will tell you that you have no risk, because we are all at some risk.
Thanks for your question,
CCF-MD-KE
Sorry to hear about the discomfort that PVCs are causing you. PVCs in the setting of a structurally normal heart are not suggestive of anything serious. You have a structurally normal heart and therefore I think it is unlikely that your PVCs are indicative of anything ominous. PVCs may be classified as pathologic by some simply because they are abnormal. When a physician sees an ECG with a PVC, he/she may not know the patient. The reference to them as being pathologic may be to stimulate a further investigation by the person's own physician.
Exercise induced PVCs can be associated with increased risk for blockages in the heart arteries. If a person develops PVCs occurring in more than 10% of beats in any 1 minute or more than 3 beats in a row, they may be at increased risk. PVCs may occur in approximately 1/3 of asymptomatic men performing a maximal treadmill test. A subgroup of healthy men (~2%) will have severe exercise induced PVCs which is associated with 3 times the risk of developing coronary artery disease.
Anxiety may be a factor which may lead to an increase in PVCs, along with increased awareness. Thanks for your interesting questions. Based on our conversation I think you are in a low risk category. You will never be able to find a doctor who will tell you that you have no risk, because we are all at some risk.
Thanks for your question,
CCF-MD-KE
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