Is sugar the culprit?

So I am still trying to figure out what in the world is going on with my heart.  I had almost 9 months of bliss.  Then the PVCs, etc, came back like gangbusters even though I was doing NOTHING different.  However, tonight I had a revelation.  I had them so bad at work (I'm a nurse at an in patient hospice unit) that I thought maybe I should just jump in a bed.  I felt in just as bad a shape as the people I'm caring for.  WHAT IS DIFFERENT?  

So I really really thought about it and there is one very prominent thing.  The 9 months I had almost no palps were the nine months I was VERY strict about not eating sugar. I had less than 15 grams a day the whole time.  I started adding sugar back to my diet occasionally...and that is exactly how my palps were coming.  When I was in Disney, I had them pretty bad....I was eating sugar.  I never thought about any of this because I've eaten sugar all my life.  I also had PVCs almost all my life.

Tonight, I started my work evening with a piece of cheesecake.  I NEVER eat that much sugar at one time.  I had the PVCs all night.  I don't know if this is a coincidence, but I am totally going off sugar again and I will keep you updated.

[andrew0099]

very interesting post for me- I also went a long period of time recently with virtually no problems- for many months it seemed I had a normal life, not having to worry about having a few drinks etc...

Then, about a month ago, the arrhythmia issues came on with a vengeance and I couldn't figure out why- the typical electrolyte supplements didn't seem to help and my cardiologist and family doctor gave me the same old response about pvc's and pat's being fairly common and not dangerous.

Anyways, it culminated on Monday night with a 20 minute episode of Afib (my first in almost a year), which thankfully stopped by itself.  I went to the ER just to be safe and the doctor assured me that I am ok and will be fine given I am quite young and have zero risk factors.

Anyways, with all that said, I don't know why these episodes come and go, but I am convinced it is related to diet, environment etc.  I also noticed that my episodes are always the worst in the winter.   It is strange that cardiologists always downplay the role that indigestion and other factors play in this- while I am inclined to believe the experts, I also know from experience that certain things seem to spark episodes.

[RNRita]

I think it has a lot to do with it.  When I wasn't getting any, I was losing weight.  Now I have recently gained about 5 pounds and they are back.  So I will keep trying to figure this out.  When I wasn't getting any, I drank all the coffee I wanted, and drank alcohol, at times, too.  Go figure.

[curmudgen]

May I add that I have episodic benign PAC's/PVC's and  they occur between 11:30 am and 3:30 pm and neither my PCP nor Cardiologist have any idea. I too have had all the tests and show no sign of any coronary heart disease.  I don't use any sugar.  I never get them at the corresponding times during the night.   I can go days-weeks without them and as you stated out of no where on they come.  Interestingly I have looked into the idea of GERD causing them since I get a tight feeling in my epigastric region during an episode, but I have no symptoms of GERD.  Vagus nerve irritation has also been noted as a cause of palpitations in some people.  A mystery to be solved.  

[bbxx]

Cheesecake sounds sooooo good right now! :)
Sorry you are having a lot of pvcs. It stinks I know!

[RNRita]

Seems every position makes them worse, too.  Only if I sit bolt upright can I get relief....WHAT IS THE CONNECTION?  Well, at least my posture is getting much better!

[curmudgen]

Have you checked your blood sugar level?  Sometimes my blood sugar level is unusually high when I have episodes of palpitations.  Yours could have been triggered by cheese cake?

[RNRita]

I didn't check because I was at work.  We have a BS machine but it won't work unless programmed with a patient's MR number.  However, I had almost no sugar today (less than 15 grams) and had almost no palps at work.  I go to my cardiologist tomorrow AM.  We'll see what is up.

[CFS56]

I went though a period last year where my PVCs were affected by my body position.  It was so weird.  I could have them while standing and if I sat down they went away.  Once I was in bigemeny and discovered if I leaned over it stopped.  I still can sit with my legs crossed and my body twisted and they will start up.  And they usually happened between 5 and 9pm.  Very strange.  

[bbxx]

weird--i was having pvcs for a while that started in the evenings around 8pm.

[goingcrazy1029]

Quick question...or maybe questions...I too suffer from PVCs and they are almost daily. I have stopped using caffeine, don't drink alcohol and try to keep myself hydrated. Cardiologist recommends a banana a day for the potassium which I try to do. Now someone has told me to eliminate all chocolate which I am also trying to do. Here is my question: when you said you eliminated all sugar from your diet do you mean refined sugar or all sugar including fruits? As much as I want to control these darn things (PVCs), I still want to enjoy life.What do you eat? There is sugar in everything (except for meats).

[Madge270]

I had  thousands of PVCs a daym, starting two 1/2 years ago. It was the first time I ever had them. Suddenly they stopped last July.  The only things that I changed was that I started using Nexium every other day instead of every day and reduced the dose from 40 mg to 20 mg. I also started (as suggested by my cardiologist) taking a calcium/magnesium/ Vitamin D3 softgel once a day. I dont't know if that's why I have only a few PVCs a day now or not.

I still have sugar in my diet, the same amount as usual. Not excessive, but I do like honey on toast and an oatmeal cookie or two each day with some tea. Sometimes a 1/2 cup serving of frozen yogurt. And I do eat a banana a day for potassium. So I'm not sure that ,in my case, sugar has much to do with it.

But that doesn't mean sugar might not trigger yours. It might. We're all different.  I do wish the causes of PVCs were being studied more. So  many of us need answers!

[goingcrazy1029]

I also take calcium and vitamin D. In addition to that, I take 88 mg of levoxyl and 25 mg of generic Toprol which only helps a bit. What made a light bulb go off in my head was the Nexium. I take one each night and have been for about 5 - 6 years. My PVCs only started about 6 months ago but I was wondering if Nexium may be a cause. I could certainly drop back to taking Nexium every other day as my acid reflux is basically under control. Maybe I will talk to my doctor about this.

[RNRita]

I had to stop all proton pump inhibitors because they DEFINITELY caused me to have a ton of PVCs.  

As for the sugar, yes, I went off ALL sugar.  I ate 15 grams or less a day.  Not everything has sugar.  This started by accident.  I went on the Belly Fat Cure to lose weight and I had tons more energy, lost 25 pounds, and my PVCs literally stopped.  

I have not noticed a big difference lately, but seem to not be able to stop sugar altogether right now.  I'm too hungry.  lol  Still trying, though. Plus I get my heart monitor on Wednesday and want to make sure I have them.

[erijon]

Whoa........ you mean my PPI may be contributing to my PVC's? I didn't know that. I've been on Acphex for years.

[RNRita]

Oh, heck yes!  I def did many experiments and even started a thread.  A lot of people agreed.  With the diet, I could stop taking them, so that was a relief.

[Madge270]

RNRita, what do you take for acid reflux instead?  I can't seem to get by without some kind of antacid, although if I eat carefully, I can skip a day and do all right.  On the days I don't use Nexium, I sometimes use DGL licorice tablets or Mylanta cherry if needed, (because it contains calcium and magnesium, which are good for the heart anyway.). But I can't seem to stop the Nexium totally.

I've had sinus and allergy issues this winter, and was prescribed Nasonex nasal steroid spray.  (Can't use antihistamines or decongestants, and am really miserable, so Nasonex is all I've used.)  However, I'm finding that Nasonex can cause reflux too. I often have acid in my throat on days I use it, even if I'm taking Nexium!   Anyone else have this problem?

[loosil]

I wrote earlier about being newly diagnosed today with SVT and also have allergy issues
and take Nasonex; don't know if that causes reflux, have had it for years after
gall bladder removal; I take Nexium and Singulair as well. Today, realized that these
issues may be aggravating the fast heart beats.....I also notice all is worse immediately after eating anything sweet.   Plan to begin an experiment of sugar denial this week end.