Sugar

[hambone]

Hi Doc! Happy Holidays!
Wouldn't be a normal week without ANOTHER PVC question!
I have MVP with mild regurge,thicken leaflets,low HR, PVC's & PSVT. I have been hogging down tons of Christmas cookies. They are loaded with sugar & chocolate & have noticed an increase in my MVP symptoms.
In your opinion does sugar & chocolate set off MVP symptoms & palps in some people?
What is the mechanism involved? I read so many wacko things I don't know what to believe. I'm thinking all the goofey MVP diet stuff might be TRUE!
This is the first time in 15 years I have noticed a possible link.
Do you think that diet makes a difference with MVP symptoms? I'm starting to think maybe it really does! More than 1 cup of coffee will set me off & so will OTC cold meds. In your opinion are MVP folks wired different for stress? Is too much sugar & chocolate stress?
All the best to you & yours & everyone that helps to make this forum possible.
Thank You for all you do!
Best Wishes in the coming New Year.
Kathy

[Duchess47]

I'm letting every person with these symptoms know what I have gone through as it may help someone else.  I have just been diagnosed with Gastroparesis.  This term means "slow stomach emptying" and many diabetics have this.  I am not diabetic, but I have had "heart rate" related issues for 1 year.  Last year I ate a peanutbutter and jelly sandwhich and my heart rate suddenly went up to about 150 then started tapering down after I took a beta blocker.  I still went to the e.r. where among other things they checked my glucose level which was high.  Since sugar sits in your stomach for a much longer period of time with slow stomach emptying I believe there is a definite correlation between Gastroparesis and heart rate related issues.  Gastroparesis is caused by such things as hypothyroidism and damage to the vagus nerve from anything from surgery to a viral infection.  The syptoms are, feeling very full after a meal, getting full very fast, bloating, acid reflux, nausea, constipation.

[flip-flop]

Sugar and chocolate definitely make my palps go crazy...I haven't had even a little taste of chocolate in over five years. And I really miss it....I do have a harder time avoiding sugar though. I will have a cookie every once in a while and don't have a problem with that but if I have more than a couple of them then I have problems. I have to be very careful.

[Redbaron]

I suffer from AFIB which is easily triggered with both Chocolate and Coffee, and just to prove we are all different my AFIB settles down when I drink Alcohol and goes into a 200BPM frenzy if I eat Cheese!
Happy NSR Holidays to all :-)

[Mel22]

Onions do it for me!

[hambone]

Thank you everyone! You have given me lots of food for thought(no pun intended). I'm going to lay off the cookies & see if that helps. Merry christmas & A Happy New Year to all.
Kathy

[LukeL]

Now I am the exact opposite I can drink a two liter of coke in one day and be fine as well as eat a ton of chocolate and sweets. I however seem to get them bad when I don't have these things. It seems to be an indivdual thing and varies from person to person.

[fearfactor]

Hi, there - just an anecdotal example...if I were to eat even a tiny piece of chocolate I would be in PVC hell!  I can't drink caffeinated coffee either (I do drink 50/50 coffee and seem to do OK on that).  I find that when I avoid sugar, I do best with my PACs and PVCs.  I ate a piece of pie after dinner on Thanksgiving and nearly wound up going to the hospital, my palps were so bad.  I don't know why we palp sufferers are sensitive to things more than other people, but I know I am.  Take it easy on the sugar!  :)

[Cleveland Clinic]

hambone,

thanks for the post.

In your opinion does sugar & chocolate set off MVP symptoms & palps in some people?

Someone here in the past noted chocolate. A lot of people notice a change with meals. I'm sure each person is different.

What is the mechanism involved?

The parasympathetic nervous system controls a lot of body components. There may be cross talk with your digestive system and cardiovascular system. I dont honestly have a plausible explanation on why one thing versus another in your diet would set it off.

I read so many wacko things I don't know what to believe. I'm thinking all the goofey MVP diet stuff might be TRUE!
This is the first time in 15 years I have noticed a possible link. Do you think that diet makes a difference with MVP symptoms?

Diet certainly impacts your overall health. While you may notice a difference in your symptoms with your diet, I would still strive to maintain a heart healthy diet. Sugar and chocolate would not be a significant component of that type of diet.  There are a lot of fad diets out there. Honestly, its calories in and calories out.


I'm starting to think maybe it really does! More than 1 cup of coffee will set me off & so will OTC cold meds. In your opinion are MVP folks wired different for stress? Is too much sugar & chocolate stress?


There are a lto of suggestions of patients with MVP and stress and anxiety. Which begets which is unknown. Luckily if youve found dietary triggers for your symptoms, you can work to avoid them.

good luck