5,560 pvcs recorded on Holter monitor in 24 hrs.

[kbenscoter]

I recently wore a holter monitor for 24 hrs at the request of a cardiologist and was told that I had had 5,560 pvcs in that time period. I am a relatively healthy 40 year old, no history of heart disease, but with frequent palpitations and dizzy spells. Is this number very high, average or otherwise?

[Jerry_NJ]

Given an average heart beats between 90 and 100 thousand beats a day you 5,000 doesn't sound so high.  Still, on average that is about 4 per minute and clearly noticeable.

I don't know the specific answer to your question but can say from what I remember reading your number strikes me as normal/average for those who have regular PVC.  Some just have a few now and then, may even not have any on some day or days.  But I think if you question is limited to those cases that happen every day, most of the day, I think you are close to average.  You didn't say, but I assume the PVCs come regularly, that is you have some every minute of every hour, all day and night.

If the above isn't helpful perhaps you post being moved to the top of the list will attract a more helpful input.

Discuss with your doctor, he/she surely knows what the level means, and what if anything should/could be done to alleviate.

[Lisa33167]

I think there's a formula that alot of dr's use but don't quote me :)  

My EP told me that anything between 6,000 - 8,000 is normal "abnormal" which is about 4-5 pvc's per minute anything above that they would look at treating with meds unless there's extinuating circumstances.  

Also, they usually take your total heartbeat in a 24 hr period and then take your total pvc's in that period and divide to get the %, anything 15-20% and above they tend to worry about cardiomyopathy and heart damage and would suggest surgery. (hope that makes sense)

For example - I had 129,000 total heartbeats 24/hr and 54,181 PVC's that's 42% of my total HB that were pvc's. I had 2250 pvc's per hour or 37.5 pvc's per minute...astounding to think about...I developed cardiomyopathy and had to have an ablation and pacemaker/icd implanted

5,560 over a 24 hr period is getting close to the point of treating with meds if you go by my EP, but I would question the dizzy spells a bit more - have you had a tilt table test to see about the cause?  I would ask if you haven't had one - that may yield some answers.

[Madge270]

I recently had a monitor on for two days, and they found 17,000 PVCs out of almost 200,000 heartbeats over the 48 hours. I was scared, because I'm so allergic to antibiotics (have a shock reaction to them including being unable to breath) and if I needed surgery it would be very serious.   But my EP said that since my echocardiogram showed my heart was structurally normal, I didn't have to worry. He also said that, since my PVCs become less when my pulse is over 85 a minute (with mild to moderate activity), I didn't need a beta blocker. The beta blocker would slow down my pulse and BP. I already have a relatively low pulse and blood pressure. He also said why would I want to take a beta blocker to slow my heartbeat down, since my  PVCs are worse then and better when my pulse is a little faster. This made sense to me, since I'd had a stress treadmill test last February, and it showed absolutely no PVCs at all for the 8 minutes I was on the treadmill. Yet a few months later, when resting, I began to feel PVCs. Very strange.

A friend told me that there's some early research that suggests that some people who take proton pump inhibitors ( I take Nexium), or H2 blockers like Zantac or Pepcid develop serious, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias that can lead to sudden death. This really scared me and I'm wondering whether there's anything to it. I don't need that. Wish I could get off heartburn meds, but I have GERD every time I stop. Have any of you heard about this possible side effect?

[Lisa33167]

Oh wow, I haven't heard or read that, can you send me info on it?  I've taken Pepcid or Zantac for years; that's scary since I'm taking pepcid per my EP now on a daily basis yikes!

[Madge270]

Hi, Lisa.  My friend (neighbor) said she found this bit of information in a google search for side effects on proton pump inhibitors, since she's just starting to take Prilosec. I know that there's a lot of misinformation on the internet too, so am unsure whether to take this seriously or not. And I know that if I ask my doctor, he'll just tell me to ignore it. That's why I asked whether anyone here has heard or read about this. Wish I knew more. I've been on Nexium since 2005, and the PVCs (lots of em) suddenlyshowed up last June. Kind of scares me. And having ablations, etc. are very risky for me because (as I've mentioned before), antibiotics are used for those. I've nearly died twice from antibiotics over the last few years. Had to be put on a ventilator so I could breathe. Doctor says I'n a surgeon's nightmare and warns me to try not to get the H1N1 flu. My husband works with highschool and college kids. What are the chances I'll escape H1N1?  Not so good. I can't have the vaccine, and my husband can't get it yet since he's in his sixties. It may be months before he can get his shot. I feel kinda like a sitting duck whenever I go out. Never know who's sick. People come to work sick because they need the money. Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. If you hear anything about this PPI/PVC connection, I'd like to hear more. Hopefully, it won't affect many people, if any. All I know is that I've suddenly developed PVCs and doctors don't know why, or whether they will get worse. Quite a pickle we're in, isn't it?

[oceanminded]

Please let us know what treatment options you decide on. I too fall around this 5000 PVC number when mine are acting up really bad (like they have been lately). Currently not taking anything except for Fish Oil and magnesium.


Thanks!

[Madge270]

I'd like to know your treatment options  too. Good luck to you.

[kbenscoter]

I'm scheduled for a signal-average ECG and a cardiac MRI in the next 2 weeks, then discuss again with dr. He seems to be leaning away from beta blockers since my pulse rate/BP is low to normal and the stress test showed no PVCs under stress. I'll keep you informed if we come up with treatment options!

[Lisa33167]

"my pulse rate/BP is low to normal"

Yeah, I'd be very careful too with bb's - I have NCS and OI - bp/hr lower sides and took 1/2 tablet of Toprol and ended up in the ER for 11 hours.  After 7 hours of my bp/hr stabilizing at 70/40 and 41; I finally told them I wanted to go home.

I had a cardiac MRI done - be prepared for a very long test - or maybe mine seemed an eternity [1 hr 15 min] because I had just had surgery :P