Are runs of PVCs a concern.

I already posted a similar question in the heart disease forum, so I apologise for the duplication, but I am feeling very concerned about this issue.

I had a holter monitor test (48 hour) revealing about 540 PVCs and around 40 PACS, including a run of 3 PACs.

I had an echocardiogram, showing a slight enlargement of the left ventricle, but was assured my heat was structurally fine. Similarly test have shown no aterial blockages. A recent stress test turned up one PVC (!).

I have been experiencing runs of PVCs, up to twelve in a row, with no seeming breaks between them. I have had about three such incidents in a month, including one last night.

My doctor(s) seem unconcerned, suggesting that they were either runs of bigemeny, or PACs, or that we would just wait to see if they became more frequent.

I have been advised elsewhere to consult an electrophysiologist in case these episodes have a more sinister origin.

I have a scenario in mind where the run of PVCs becomes ventricular tachycardia, and then ventricular fibrilation.

How likely is this outcome?

I have read also about NSVT. Is this a concern? The information seems conflicting.

Thanks for you attention.

[suzy74601]

I can not tell you about your own stuff going on I can just lighten your fear some.  

Most of us have been having these for quite some time with no rhyme or reason.  Most of us have been told we are healthy and to deal or put on a light beta blocker to help.  I was one on a beta blocker.  I have chose to take 1 a day and it seems to help but I still have them on a daily basis.  

To put you at ease go to a cardiologist or Ep if you feel necessary.  My cardiologist says I am perfectly fine other then the anxiety they cause me.  I am 30 years old with no other diagnosed conditions except for acid reflux.  

[michellepetkus]

If you had a 48 hour holter and only 540 pvcs that isn't a large amount.  They really only treat pvcs once they reach more than 20,000 a day.  It does not sound like this is the case.  Though I would like to ask if these runs you think you are having was something you felt while also on the holter.  If so then I don't think you need to worry, if this is a new symptom then go back to your doctor and get them captured on an ekg.  I know that sometimes when I am having a bad pvc day it can feel like I am having a lot of them when I really am just having a high heart rate near 100 resting.  So I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that you are having runs unless you have had them documented.  As for whether or not pvcs will turn into vt or whether VT will turn into VF I think all instances are rare.  Especially VF.  I suggest trying to do a little research online so you can get a little more familar with the condition in an effort to ease your mind a bit.  The fear and anxiety will make your condition worse.  Finally considering your heart is in good health you can be pretty sure that your pvcs are really of no consequence health wise even though they can be annoying.  If, however, you want to seek a second opinion it is your right to do so.  If it gives you peace of mind then go for it.  Good luck and keep us posted but just know you are not alone.  A lot of people have pvcs.  Take care.

[adhd_pvcs_mouse]

Well, I would like to say, 'not to worry' but I know how it feels. I have had PVCs and PACs from the age of about 18 or so. I am almost 55 now. Early tests back when I was 18 showed a slightly enlarged heart but nothing significant. Stress/treadmill tests, blood tests and EKGs and all the rest showed I was OK. I had PVCs, they said, and that was all they had to say. No treatment was required, and I would live. However, I was getting episodes of heart skipping and I would get anxiety about them and that just made them worse. I was also having panic attacks, and adrenalin does not help them either. Nor does coffee. 40 years ago they did not link PVCs to coffee. Coffee, chocolate and tea all have related methylxanthine compounds in them, those being: caffein, theobromine and theophilline, respectively. Kola nuts also have theobromine, and hence they are also in sodas like Coca Cola. They all have similar efects on the heart and they are all stimulants (they affect the hormones in the body that result in stimulated activity). They can also leave you jagged and in a state of being rattled from the speedy effects, and that makes you worse mentally and physically. I and others that I know with PVC are affected by any of the methylxanthines, and hence they should be avoided to help avoid PVCs. I also found that chocolate can trigger migraines. I get splitting headaches that were finally correctly diagnosed as migraines when I was about 45.

At any rate, I was tested when I was 18, and then I went to see a cardio specialist when I was about 40 when I was having a rash of PVCs. They gave me a lot of tests and I wore a holter monitor. They said I had PVCs and PACs, and the doctor said that any anti-PVC meds that they had had far worse side effects than the PVCs, and he did not recommend I be put on any meds for my irregular heart beat. I had long since stopped drinking coffee, but I had not stopped eating chocolate or drinking tea. I have since quit consuming either of those as well as Cola, and that has helped. I also take potassium as I have low levels in my blood (I found this out when I was in the hospital last year).

That all being said, I still get bouts of PVCs, and PACs. PVCs are not really an issue medically, unless there is an related heart disease associated with it. My blood pressure is really low, I am HWP and I work out a lot. I am on the ski patrol in winter months. PVCs can be anoying as what you feel are the palpitations of the extra blood being drawn into the heart and pumped out due to the premature contractions. I do not have any pain associated with them, but I am aware of them and my chest has a light pulse response when they happen. Lately they have been worse than usual, and so I was cruising here looking for a cure... or an answer anyway. Maybe some new discovery that I had missed. That seems not to be the case though. Others that I know have issues with sleeping positions and PVCs; I get them more when I sleep on my left side than mu right. A nursing friend of mine that laso has PVCs said she has the same thing. I have had lots of friends with PVCs, and my father had them as well. He was diagnosed with them when he was dying fo liver failure from liver cancer. They wanted to rush him to the cardio ward to do tests, and I waived them off and signed a release saying that they were benign and run in the family. My oldest brother also has them. He claims that taking Hawthorn herbs helps with them. I tried that but that did not help mewith them.

[Mom2four85]

really it all depends on what's causing the arrhythmia's and where they originate and their numbers and if there's any structural problems in the heart

our hearts are very resilient and can handle alot of missed, skipped and funky beats and even handle it stopping or going out of rhythm frequently

most dr's say 6,000-8,000 pvc's daily they would treat with meds anything above 15-20% (roughly 15,000+ daily) of your total daily heart beats they would try ablation up until those points, they say try and find your triggers and eliminate/avoid them and just live with the symptoms

each of us are different; if it's found our hearts are structurally normal then even alot of pvc's may not bother us...my last cardiologist treated a woman with 80,000 pvc's daily with only beta blockers; yet an abltion and meds didn't help my 50,000 pvc's much and I ended up having a pacemaker/defibrillator implanted due to what they think is a genetic problem they didn't find until I was 42...now 2 years later, I still have daily NSVT runs (not long ones) VT, Vtach episodes and not many answers why