The Hiatal/PVC/PAC Connection

Why aren't more doctors aware that hiatal hernias can be the cause of irregular heartbeats with patients who otherwise have healthy hearts?  Although we are told PVC's/PAC's are not life threatening, I can tell you that for many of us it is a debilitating condition.

There is a large market out here patiently waiting for a cure.  Why isn't there a medication to treat this illness?

Marya Taylor  

[Jerry_NJ]

I don't know where you got your information, but I'm not contesting it.  I respond more because I see your post slipping to the bottom of page 1, and don't like to see a post go without any attempt made to help.

Given the accuracy of your statement, the question appears to me rhetorical, which puts of many who may have some related information.  I do not think may MDs read this, and other than them and/or the medical educational systems of the world not doing their job being the reason it would take such a representative provide an answer.

You are, I read, suffering from PVC/PAC, is it due to a hernia?  Are the "standard" medications being tried to provide you at least some relief?

[SassyLassie]

I have a hiatal hernia, and I know for a fact that sometimes it is the cause of my PAC's. If I eat a large meal or drink lots of water then bend down or slouch, even walk, they will certainly act up. I believe it is due to the hernia protruding through the diaphragm and then touching a cardiac reflex or vagus nerve, this in turn causes those dang things to act up. It is horrible, and I wish more doctors would recognize this instead of saying nothing or acting like you are a little nuts. It is a real problem, I know from experience.

[marya309]

I was diagnosed some years ago with a small hiatal hernia.  Since the age of about 24 I have had PVC/PAC's, but they were just small flutters that occurred very occassionally.  About two years ago, the extra beats became more chronic and difficult at times to catch my breath and function.  Although doctors tell you it is "not life threatening," it certainly compromises the quality of your life.    Most of us concur when you get more than 20 episodes in one hour of double or triple beats, it limits your lifestyle and will eventually compromise your life.  If you are having a really bad spell of "IT" you simply cannot function.  I want to tell you now, I plan on living an active life style well into my 80's and feel that if I do not "nip it" while I can still "fight it" I will become eventually incapacited by  "it."  Who wants to sit on their bum and wait to die?????    

The cardiologist said there was not a connection betweem this and my hiatal hernia..  I pressed him further and used the terms vagal nerve, he still said no connection.  The only medication I am on is to treat a slightly elevated BP.  I am 5'6, weigh 138#, and very active and otherwise healthy.  In fact, walking, step aerobics, etc. seems to aleviate the beats. ( I read a post on Dr. Kim's web site, that jumping down can help a sliding hernia pop back into the stomach cavity.  So maybe this is why activity of this nature works?  Also, Dr. Kim recommends slightly pressing in a downward motion starting at the bottom of the sternum toward the belly button.)

My internal medicine doctor listened to all my symptoms and suggested the possiblity that it could be related and I try Prylosec for the stomach pain/bloating, etc.  It actually does help by quieting my stomach.  What most of us have found (through the process of deduction), a quieter tummy means less PVC's/PAC's. However, this does not sufficiently limit the number of attacks. ( Wouldn't it be great if there were a medication that was timed released to reduce the acid and quieted the vagal nerve response? )

So, getting back to your question, am I being sufficiently treated for the PAC/PVC's....no.  The problem is, there cannot be a treatment if someone out there does not recognize that there is a relationship (complex) between hiatal and PVC's/PAC's.  In order to treat a disorder a difinitive diagnosis must be made.  

I have been following this thread for years, however, just signed up this past week, because I want to find a way to bring this to the attention of the medical community and drug research companies.

From what I have read on this thread and within the scope of the community of  people I know as fellow sufferers,we all seem to feel that what is going on in the stomach is affecting the heart.  

Are you in a position to represent us, or can you advise me of someone who can? In fact, can anyone reading these threads suggest a way to collaborate effectively to get our condition diagnosed and treated.   I think that this new drug has the potential to become a highly lucrative one.
  
Although it is great to have a group of fellow suffers who are in concurrence and agree that something more is going on we are not solving for the problem.  I have always felt that if you are going to complain about something also be willing to come up with a solution.

When you know better, you do better.  We all know there is a connection, it is time to DO something about it.  

Marya Taylor

[marya309]

I mention in my post to Jerry that my first attack was around the age of 24.  I happened to bend down to pick up a tennis ball and my heart went into a wacky mode....two beats, stop, three to four fast beats, stop...for several minutes.  It was about 1/2 hour after a meal.  That first occurence was sure scary.  I went to the Dr. and he found my heart to be perfectly healthy.  Does that sound familiar to you??  About two years later, I was experiencing some stomach problems, and had a gastroscopy.  The only thing found was a small hiatal hernia.

In between 24 and age 53, I would have an occasional thump or two.  At 53 I experienced a bad prolonged attack and sought medical advice for relief.  As most of us concur, insufficient treatment for this disease.  For the last two years, I have been what most of us would term "plagued" by irregular heart beats.  I really wouldn't have known I had a hiatal hernia except for the diagnosis and the fact that I do suffer with burping, occasional heartburn...who doesn't and a really fast digestive track.  In today, out tomorrow!!  Hah, hah.

I hope you and other suffers will form a coalition to find a cure.  It is not the worse thing in the world, however, it does impact your lifestyle and happiness.

Sincerely,
Marya Taylor    

[rodger1223]

I have had ALL the tests known to the medical profession with regard to GERD and hiatal hernias.  There is no indication of any abnormal reflux but there is a medium sized hernia.  My symptoms begin about 2 hours after falling asleep.  I wake up with tremendous pain and pressure in the left side of my chest, pounding heart and this happens EVERY NIGHT for the last 8 years.  I can go back to sleep after an hour or so of sitting up, but after 2 hours of sleep it starts all over again.

My heart doctor finds no problems with my heart, and I've also heard the same story from several gastro doctors, "this isn't life threatening".  Yeah, right.  I've tried every antacid medication there is and have found no relief from any.  I do have a surgeon that recommends the wrap surgery to repair the hernia.  I have avoided this but am ready to try anything.  Most doctors have no solution to offer at all.  I'm 63 years old, not overweight, don't smoke or drink, so this is also confusing the doctors.  Anyone out there had success with the wrap surgery?
Charles

[madjlp]

My 2 cents -- in the interest of "giving it a name" I'll mention "Roemheld Syndrome" -- it may have been mentioned on the board before or I may have first read about it elsewhere -- regardless its talked about on the internet - from what I can gather its a real theory (developed by Drs in Germany) that attempts to tie gastric pressure, hernias etc to cardiac symptoms and does so by walking through a common sense cause and effect of pressure on the diaphragm leading to cardiac displacement and irritation that drives symptoms (pvcs etc)  I don't know what kind of supporting research/literature there is but I wanted to get the ball rolling.  Godspeed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roemheld_Syndrome

[Myah2006]

I can't believe I am reading this... I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia in 2007 and have had PVC's since a little before that. I always kinda thought that there might be a link between the two, but when I have asked my dr's about it, they say there is no link. I am 30 yrs old and I experience them daily and sometimes I have several in a minute that make me feel really sick. I am worried about my health, and can't seem to get any help from my dr's as they think that my PVC's aren't life threatening...

[filmfanatic]

I have pvc's, pac's, and was recently diagnosed with SVT.  All triggered by eating and my hiatal hernia.  Dr's dont have a clue and just want to ablate.

I can't believe they don't see the correlation.  All you have to do is google hiatal hernia and arrhythmia!  Or vagus nerve and arrhythmia.

GI Dr's won't communicate with EP Dr's and it all ends up being a waste of time.  Western medicine is still in the dark ages.

If anyone ever comes up with a cure for this let me know.  I have eliminated caffeine, wine, spicy foods, and am now practicing good food combining.  Mostly protein and veggies and rice, some fruit.

Be well all.

[sb786]

My story is similar to filmfanatic's. I can suffer from pvcs, pacs and svt. In fact all my svt episodes are triggered by gas/acid when i am eating!! I am lucky as my GP, cardiologist and EP all AGREE that my heart problems are linked to indigestion symptoms. I have not been diagnosed with hiatal hernia but can suffer from acid reflux and i have IBS.
Anxiety and stress or even colds and flus all irritate our digestive systems and trigger pvcs for me. I find my bad bouts of digestion problems always follows one of these triggers.

[Mally815]

you are lucky that all your docs agree! I suffer from chronic indigestion, and went to the dr. last yr with palps. After labwork, ekg, and echocardiogram my dr. told me I was just "wired wrong" and that sometimes heart palps can occur. he suggested beta blocker, which I don't want to take because of the side effects. I told him about my indigestion. He didn't make any connection, just gave me Prilosec for that. What did your docs suggest or give you to alleviate the pain or palps?

[skeetelmore65]

I understand where ur coming from because I have the same problem. Everytime I eat, I can feel pains in my heart area.Sometimes, they are just like a feeling of something dropping on me like a crumb, but it kinda stings. Then, I have them right over my heart like a pinch or something of that nature. My PCP has put me on a Beta-Blocker and had it at home a month b4 took even one. I went back to see him and told him that I wasn't taking the BB, but I did some research on it and even musicians take a BB, b4 a concert to ease the nervousness.
I just was wondering @ the side effects u were mentioning. What kind of side effects. I am already taking enough medicine now for what I have.Dx with: DDD of cervical,lumbar,hip/joint, Spondylosis,Spinal stenosis,Cm,VA, Fibro,Migraine and my NS is thinking @ adding Myeomalcia..GREAT..U think, it is that or my heart?
They have me on Fentanyl Patch 50mcg,Gabapentin(Neurontin generic),Norco(like lortab 10),Prilosec for my ulcer, but feel the nexium done better 4 me, Xanax for spasms, lasix for swelling/water retention and now my heart is acting up and wondering if it isn't ALL the medicine that I do take. I have cut my patch back from 75 down to 50, and they have me taking 9-300mg. of Gabapentin a day. I just take so much medicine, to have to take something 4 my heart too. I have been dx with a hietal hernia and ulcer back in '94,but have never had much of a problem with it...until NOW. I am wondering if all of this medicine has caused the heart problem??
I am experiencing episodes to where my whole left side of body is completely numb and my heart will race so fast. Resting it has been 111 and I have never had a problem with my <3. I sure hope that those German docs will get us help in this department and can find some kind of correlation between the two. I know that there is one...I can feel it and I know everyone here agrees that when we eat...we pay.
Last night I had to go to get a check cashed and I began to hurt in the center of my chest where the soft spot is and I couldn't even touch it, it hurt so bad. I drank water and it barely soothed it and I didn't know what to do. Of course, with all that is going on in my body..it is a wonder that I am still around and I am only 45.
I just wanted this thread to continue because it spells out THE PROBLEM so many people have..THEY NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM and soon.
Take care ALL and God Bless...always:))))<3 Karen

[tom_h]

I too have a hiatal hernia, although I don't know how long I've had it.  I also get PVC's even after my ablation for SVT.  In recent months, I've went on a diet, cut out carbs to about 50g/day, lost 20 pounds, and my PVC's have vanished.  Another thing I've noticed is the heartburn I always had and for which I took Ranitidine for has gone away as well.

[lasvegasgirl6]

same thing happens to me