Still having PAC's

[cstevens]

Here is my situation.  I just had another chek-up with my normal DR.  Had a complete blood work.  Everything looked good as far as that goes.  BP was 123/80, Total cholesteral 182, Tri(High)210, nothing else out of the ordinarry.  This past summer I was on a King of Hearts event moniter for a month.  From June-July.  At that time i visited a cardialogist.  The event moniter found that my heart was beating normally most of the time. On the occasion I complained of palpitations my heart was occasionally skipping beats.  He told me that the skipped beats where premature atrial complexes(PAC's).  I am still having these.  I get between 1-3 a day. It seems like most of them come while I'm at rest.  I notice i get them more often while I'm laying down to go to sleep or take a nap.  I'm sure I have more than just 1-3 a day but don't notice all of them.  My normal doctor and Cardialogist say they are benign and usually require no tretment.  I just can't get past the worry of having a heart attack or just having my heart stop for good.  I wouldn't consider myself in great shape but i'm not in horrible shape either.  I am over weight 5-11 235.  I exercise on a daily basis.  I try to run between 1-3 miles a day.  I run a mile in hust under 9min.  While I'm runing my heart rate is usally in that 160-170bpm range.  During exercise i have experinced PAC's but not on a regular basis.  I can';t seem to get the thought out of my head that I'm just going to tip over and die from these things.  In your opinion should I be worried?  Are the things my DR's are saying correct?  Where should i go from here?  I'm just concerned for my life, i have two kids a a wife and i don't want to just up and die on them without doing something about it.  These things are staring to affect the way i live my life.  I know you can only do so much.  I guess I just want a little more reasurance from another source.  I should add that I'm 29 years old and a male.  
Thanks for your time.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

Did that answer your questions??

[yoopertom]

I have had to deal with an irregular heartbeat for sometime no. I've had PVC's for a number of years, although infrequent. Last January I had a bowel resection and all of a sudden the irregular beats increased after surgery. (Stress?) I have learned to live with them, but it is not easy. You need to first satisfy yourself there is no heart damage or underlying problem. Then the rest is trying to get it settled in you mind that you really are OK, because you are. Good luck!

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

I agree, but I do understand that it can get in your head sometimes when you feel the extra beats.  The hard part will be keeping yourself convinced that you are ok.

[cstevens]

Yes, Thanks for your time.  I guess i have nothing to worry about.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

In your opinion should I be worried?  

No, there is no correlation of PACs and heart attacks or sudden death.

Are the things my DR's are saying correct?  

Yes, I would tell you the same thing.

Where should i go from here?

You don't need to do anything more.  I agree with life insurance to help protect your family, but there is nothing dangerous about PACs.

I hope this helps.