What's going on?

According to my MD, I do have some benign PVCs. For a couple of times, I have noticed that I can't even fall asleep on the night that I did some excercise. It doesn't feel like PVC, but when I am about to fall asleep, something mildly jerks my body and I wake up. Immediately I check my heart-bit and etc. Feels normal. It has happened only at the nights that I have done some workouts. Any suggestions?

maddog

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Dear maddog,

What you are experiencing is called a "myoclonic jerk".  This is a normal and common experience as someone drifts off to sleep.  What happens is the autonomic nervous system (takes care of automatic body functions) has a complete "discharge" that causes all the muscles to jump, often waking the individual up from near-sleep. This is nothing to be alarmed about and is normal.  

[Sharon Antonelli]

I was wanting to get information on Heart Conditions/PVC. My son's grandmother has a heart conidtion and the doctor says it is PVC. Can you please email some information about it?

[Maureen]

I just had a CardioVision test.  It showed skipped beats and BP of 103/24.  He repeated the test 3 times and it showed the same thing.  I do have Neurally Mediated Hypotension which does cause me to have low BPs at times but I was surprised at the skipped beats ad the vwry wide pulse pressure.  But I thought my BP drops were getting better since surgery.

I had surgery for a Chiari Malformation last July and my pulse pressures were often wide while I was in the hospital. My neurosurgeon was concerned.  Skipped beats have never showed up before on any EKGs.

Should I be concerned about the skipped beats and the very wide pulse pressure and the every low BP?  Thank you! Maureen