Plaps during workout

are palpitations PVC/ PACs during a workout something to be concerned about?

[HesAPooka]

In a structurally normal heart they are no concern. If you look on the internet you'll see conflicting information about palpitations during exercise, but I've seen both a really good cardiologist and electrophysiologist and both were of the opinion that palpitations are benign, and of no concern unless you have bad structural abnormalities to your heart.

[Jerry_NJ]

Hi, I haven't "seen" you around for a while.

I agree with the previous post, and comment further, just keep your heart rate under controll... if the palaps cause the heart to race, slow down.

I recall you are in fact a man with a chevy... I have a 2005 Colorado pickup that I purchased new.  It is nothing special, just the basic truck, but it gets very little use, only 15,000 miles on it, so it is "cherry" and I feel like a "chevy man" (American) when I drive it.  My other vehicles are Japanese, ouch.

[is_something_wrong]

In a normal heart, they are usually not of concern. They usually happen because we expect them and because we are nervous during exercise, fear of having heart failure, overloading the heart, dropping dead, getting a heart attack, you name it.

However, in the absence of anxiety symptoms, they (especially if they are PVCs) can be worth taking seriously. From your previous posts, I understand that you are having some cardiac problems (high blood pressure, did you also have LVH on echo?). So we can't automatically assume they are benign, though they most likely are.

You should mention this to your doctor and possibly ask for a stress test. Better safe than sorry.

[chevy man]

What's a lvh ??

[chevy man]

How long are stress tests good for? If i had 1this time last year when should i have another ? I guess what im sayin is how long can you go off test results ie... stress tests echo ?

[is_something_wrong]

LVH = Left ventricular hypertrophy

Some specialists say echos are good for 7 years, if not anything has happened in the meantime (heart attacks, accidents, etc.)

You'll have to ask your doctor. If some findings are borderline or mildly abnormal, earlier testing may be recommended.

[chevy man]

LVH = Left ventricular hypertrophy   yes there were mild findings of this

so you think that could change things?

my cardio dr thinks i'm fine as i just saw him recently

[is_something_wrong]

The problem is, a larger heart muscle requires more blood supply, just like a larger engine requires more fuel and air supply. This can make you vulnerable to ischemia (lack of blood supply) which can provoke palpitations during exercise. But if so were the case, you would likely have chest pain during exercise as well. Most men do. Women, on the other hand, are more likely to have palpitations as only symptom of coronary artery disease.

Mild LVH is usually nothing to worry about. Best treatment is to keep blood pressure under control (as this often is the cause of LVH), if you do, your LVH will likely go back to normal.

It's amazing how similar the heart is to an engine. But the heart can remodellize to fit the environment (thicken walls to compensate for higher resistance or increase inner volume to compensate for more blood flow). Unfortunately, those changes (except the combination which happens with aerobic exercise) are inappropriate and actually harmful.