PVC WORRIES!!

[joep229]

When I was probably in my 40’s I noticed occasional PVCs. Back then, I did not realize what they were, so didn’t think much about it. In the late 1990s I had some periods when I would experience them more frequently. Went to a cardiologist and had all of the usual tests. Was told that they were PVCs, normal and not to worry about it. Lately, they have been worrying me again so I went to my current cardiologist, who did my last stress test, etc back in 2006. Remembering me, he did an echo cardiogram and a holter test. 2 years ago I had a heart saver calcium scan and was told that I had 0% calcium. After doing the tests he told me, again that they were PVCs, normal and not to worry. I have had a few other stress tests prior to the one in 2006, and never had any PVCs during the tests when the heart rate was up, but now, if I exert myself, especially if I am feeling anxious, I find that I get them. I don’t know if they would persist if I had another stress test. All of my tests always came back normal. My Father (although it was never really spoken about) had arrhythmia problems from his 60s until he died at age 81 from lung cancer complications. I don’t know if his arrhythmia problems started with PVCs but I do remember that he had problems with V-Fib and was hospitalized more than a few times to correct it. He was always a hard worker and was told he had many collateral coronary arteries. My Mother had blockages as well, but she died at 80 from complications from an angiogram 10 years earlier which resulted in widespread plaque damage and eventually, kidney failure. Neither of them ever had a “heart attack”. Although my doctor says ‘don’t worry’, worrying is in my nature. I am reluctant to go back to the Cardiologist for every little thing, so I would like your advice.

[matt_s]

your story is the same as mine.  you are doing the right thing getting the tests, i went down the same road in 2008. i started taking better care of myself, getting sleep, and reducing stress and they became manageable. they are an indication of stress on the body, i have been sick lately with a nasty head/chest cold and i have had man, many more palps than usual.

[no_fate]

I'm not sure about that 30% though, maybe it starts getting risky when 20% of all total heartbeats are PVC's... can anyone confirm which percent is considered harmful?

[Mgaul]

Hey there pal never forget you're not alone with this. From what you are saying you will be just fine!! If your doc said no problems to worry about then well..no problems to worry about. But the key word there is WORRY since you seem to have no structural issues with your heart I can tell you that what is probably causing these higher numbers is ANXIETY!!!! Almost everyone out there who suffers from this condition has high anxiety levels, anxiety is key to all this and Also what's probably causing it...needless to say don't worry about it keep focused on the good things in life and just laugh when you feel that thud because it will bring you absolutely no harm! Also monitor your recent diet and life changes and see if you notice a pattern, PVCs come and go so don't think this will be forever. Good luck and don't worry!

[Madge270]

I'm glad I read this, because I have about 8500 PVCs a day. A friend told me that if I ever get about 1000 a day, or if I get a fast heartbeat, I'd need to get something done. She said that with irregular ventricular beats, especially a fast pulse, that I could have a sudden fatal heart attack. This has really had me concerned. I don't have a fast pulse now, but just the thought upset me. Apparently some of you have had a fast heartbeat or strings of irregular beats and are still around to post here.

I'd only hesitate with an ablation, if I ever needed one someday, because almost every antibiotic closes my throat. I've nearly died a few times from having antibiotics, and I understand that high dose antibiotics are given by IV for ablations. (I have to be really careful  not to catch strep throat and other bacterial infections, too, if I don't want to end up needing an antibiotic. Not fun.)

[joep229]

Thanks for the advice. I will get the book. My PVCs are no where near 30%. It's really hard to imagine that even if as much as 1/3 of total heartbeats are premature, it would not be a problem! I don't even want to think about how it would affect me psychologically if 30% of my beats were premature. I have to lick this; I don't want to continue throwing days away by unnecessarily worrying!!

[no_fate]

Read the book "hope and help for your nerves" by claire weekes if you want
a good and detailed explanation about how anxiety/panic works in your mind
and body... and how you can remove it so you can become calm again.

It's an old book but still very respected because of it's clarity and usefullness.
The basic technique the author explains in that book,

is that you have to look at that which you are affraid off...
don't try to forget or distract yourself anxiously from the heart palps...

if you feel them watch the symptoms for a minute,
accept these symptoms as not being dangerous to your health,
and then "let it go"... don't try forget that the symptoms are there,
don't try to push the symptoms away...

just let go obsessing and worrying and do the things you want to do,
and if you dont want to do anything then do nothing.

just don't try to fight the fear because that's what makes it stronger.
when part of you believes there is danger and other part of you tries to fight it, there will still be conflict.

that's why you just have to let it go and fly your through life....
FLY :)

[joep229]

Thank you for the advice. I know intellectually that everything you said is true. I know I am very lucky that apparently I have pretty good genetics. Unfortunately, when the PVCs start, so does the adrenaline (I feel every one of them). I don't seem to have any control over the escalating anxiety and panic. Especially when I am not otherwise occupied. I wonder how you and other fellow PVC sufferers cope. I suppose a lot of is staying occupied. The hardest time of course is in the evenings and lying in bed waiting to fall asleep. It is quite relieving to hear that fib and PVC issues are not hereditary (actually it was a-fib not v-fib that my father had). I have been thinking that I am doomed to live out my older years the same way that my father did. Cindy, do you take anything for your PVCs? I am on Tenormin 50 mg once a day. I know it helps because sometimes I forget and take it later in the day instead of the usual morning and I do notice the difference.

[no_fate]

how much PVC's do you have?

If i remember correctly, when there is over 30% PVC's of all total daily heartbeats,
there is a chance that as years go by you can start having more heartproblems but not necessarily.

The only immediate danger of PVC's is probably you have so many of them in a row that you have Ventricular Tachycardia, which in turn can lead to Ventricular Fibrillation and death. The keyword is probably CAN, because even though Ventricular Tachycardia is a serious condition... from what i've read many people live a long life even if they have Ventricular tACHYCARDIA regularly.

Many people have many PVC's in a row several times a day, sometimes double or triple pvc's... or a series of 10 or more... this means they have Non Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia (NSVT) but because the heart starts beating normally again
after a series of PVC's... there is no danger for Ventricular tachycardia.

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So when all your having is just PVC's, even if it's 30% of total of all your daily heartbeats.. then that's absolutely nothing to worry about.
Stomach and digestion sensitivities often have influence with PVC's so make sure
to become aware of your eating habits, so you can learn certain triggers.

Eat food your body does not react badly to, and dont eat more than your body needs.

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You might worry the next 10 years about getting a serious heartproblem, and still live.
Or you might die tomorrow in a car accident or a stroke.
Every day you have lived in  fear is a day you have thrown away!!

[cindy707]

Well first off i would like to say you are a lucky guy joe if your parents lived into their 80's so that is a definate plus.....my mom lived to 62 and my dad to 74 so you got me there so no matter what their medical history is they did great and lived well past the norm for humans.  It sounds like to me what you have is occasional paroxymal (or occasional) PVC's and like your doc said it happens to everyone.  To go into a fib and being converted a couple of times like your Dad did is nothing too earth shattering to me...(been there and done that at 55).  I would try to accept the fact that altho those were you parents genetically your heart is your own and a fib and PVC's are not hereditary.....literally millions of people on this earth have PVC's and believe it or not alot of them don't even know they are happening.  Don't stress this and over think it looking for problems when there are none.  Live your life and if you notice anything different post here and the members will weigh in to try to help you out and of course discuss it with your heart doc.  I can only hope and pray that i make it into my 80's i would be thrilled beyond belief.......if your parents arteries were blocked with plaque as you said they were that is all about diet Joe which there was a high incidence of it in that age group by not eating the way we all have now learned to.....their diets were way different than ours are now....take it easy, enjoy your life, and hope that you will live as long as your parents did....the average lifespan for humans on this earth is....for a man 72.6 and a woman is 78.4 according to the Harvard Medical Study so your parents did great and i am sure you will to as long as you continue to take care of yourself.....................