Are PAC's and PVC's indicators of CAD

Hello,

I come from a family of PAC, and PVC sufferers along with Anxiety without early onset CAD. I myself have developed PAC's over the last few years (33 years old now) and have now begun to experience them during exercise at peak levels on and off. I realize I do get these uncomfortable things when I am stressed, and when my heart rate hits max I start to worry, but it feels as though my heart gets tired and then bam, PAC. I do not feel short of breath until the anxiety comes after the PAC, but that may be rapid breathing.

I had a full cardio workup including normal echo, blood tests, and event monitor but research has led me in many direction in understanding PVC's and Ectopic beats. Almost everywhere I have read says that PVC's and PAC's are not dangerous and are not predictive of impaired mortality, but I get very different feedback regarding if PVC's and PAC's are indicative of development of Coronary Artery Disease.

My direct question is could the lack of oxygen during maximal exercise 85-90% be predictive of development or existence of coronary artery disease, or the cause of PAC's. Any advice to settle this once and for all, or recent studies?

[itdood]

I've only seen one study in this regard.  It wasn't for PACs.  It was for PVCs.  The study found that those with PVCs in the recovery phase of exercise had a higher incidence of cardiac mortality during a 5 year follow-up.  

PVCs *during* exercise load were associated with increased risk of CVD only if they were followed by recovery PVCs.

This was published in the 1-28-2008 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine

I used to get recovery PVCs only, which is rather interesting because I've since gone on a statin and I no longer get them which lends itself to this information.  I noticed this well before I read the study, it wasn't until after I read the study that I put the info together.

So to answer your question, to the best of medical knowledge we have today, it depends on when the PVCs are felt.  If they are felt during recovery you may want to take a more proactive approach to eliminate CAD and eliminate recovery PVCs.

I haven't read anything on PACs for this, if anyone knows of research there please post....