PVC'S and diet and nicotine

A couple of years ago I was having a few thousand pvc's a day. no meds. Then they cut back to the just a few a day. No problem. I have just started to try and lose some weight. I also chew tobacco (sorry). For some reason they have started again. A thousand or so a day. I am 49 years old 5'8" 260 lbs. I want to start working out and cut about 50-75 lbs. Its starting to play the mind game on me to some degree but thats kept in check by trusting in someone bigger than me. Is there any connection with pvc's tobacco,diets, weight,I also work alot of night shifts(sleep deprivation). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

Some people have PVCs that are induced by stressors like sleep deprivation, adrenaline, exercise.  If I had a family member in your situation, before starting a diet/exercise regimen, I would see your doctor.  Simple tests are in order like an EKG, blood work, a stress test, and maybe an echocardiogram (heart ultra sound) if you haven't had one recently and if there are any changes in symptoms.

If your weight is that high and you snore, you might want to look into whether sleep apnea might be driving up your stress as well.  If you snore so loud that that your significant other won't sleep in the same room, you probably have sleep apnea.

Kudos to you for trying to lose some weight and get back into shape.  Talk to your doctor first though to make sure everything is ok to proceed.  

I hope this helps.