Normal amount of PVC's

[newby123]

Can you tell me what a normal number of PVC's/PAC's would be per day.  I don't know if one a minute or one an hour or one a day is considered occasional or quite a bit.  I get maybe one every hour where it feels like a skippy, flutter or bang.  I have been to a cardiologist and she says he gets them as well but I forgot to ask if let's say one every hour is okay.  Sometimes I will feel them every couple of minutes and then they just disappear for a couple of hours.  Could you please tell me from what you have seen in your practice how many skips, flips, bangs or flutters would be acceptable.  Cardiologist says I have a normal heart.  I have had these things for 20 years plus.  What would you do with a patient complaining of this if all tests come back negative.

[pvc lady in ec]

Hello Newby,

I've had these darn PVC's and still can't get used to them. I've had every single test, gone to the ER at least 6 times. Doctor's have reassured me all tests point to a structurally sound heart. Have to just get used to PVC probably for the rest of my life. I was prescribed 100 ml of Toprol XL, and that has helped. Where as before I used to get PVC almost on a daily basis, now just experience PVC's maybe once a week (and bouts can run for hours). Even if benign, you can never get used to the flutters, shortness of breath, and occasional chest pain....at least that's what I feel when I get these things.

[cabkrun]

Hi newby,
I understand.  I've had quite a few of them myself... I only worried because they seemed to intensify during the recovery period from exercise (running or cycling).  Needless to say, I was intent to ignore them.  I was more curious as to what constitutes the docs considering them to be a little "less benign".  A neurologist once mentioned that if frequent enough, they can produce some blood pooling, and maybe lead to other problems... not sure.  Mine are nearly gone now, but I did just have a 1.5 inch PFO surgically repaired (no rim, atrial septum severely necrotic, swinging wildly, so no device, which I'm glad). I am a young 2 - small stroke victim.
So, once I am able to start running again, I will be curious to see if I still get them :)

[upbeat633]

my last holter (48hr) recorded on average 1250pvc/hour, with the hightest recorded as 830pvc/hr. I have many couplets and triplets and long strings of them now. But they still say, benign, benign.

An echo done in March/08 was "normal", although it showed mild mitral and aortic valve regurge. Doesn't sound structrually normal to me anymore, but they say the diagnostic tests are so sensitive now mild anything is usually not worth mentioning (unless it's in their hearts lol)

I'd be skipping and singing with only one or a couple of pvcs an hour, but I do know how distressing they can be. Try to rest assured with the doctors answer. I've lived with mine for hmmm 45-18=27 years :-)

[finetilthree]

Very good question.  I have a pfo and I wonder...does that mean I don't have a "normal heart".  Plus I have very slightly inverted t-waves so there goes my "Normal EKG".  Oy!

[cabkrun]

I always read "with a structurally normal heart, PVC's are benign".  So, what abnormalities could exist that would render them more of a danger?  MVP, PFO, ASD, RVH??  Just curious as to when a doctor might worry about simple rhythm abnormalities.

[tickertock]

I think that some studies have shown that 50-55% of persons under 30 years of age will probably have from 1 to100 PVCs and or PACs within in 24 hours. This is just an average from my understanding , there is no set limit, though over 10,000 in a 24 hour period would be termed very frequent.