Airplane travel with PVC's/PAC's

[Carey01]

I have been diagnosed with PVC's/PAC's.  I am 39 F with a history of hypertension which I take a 50mg Cozaar for daily.  Seems to control it pretty well.  I do not have anything structurally wrong with my heart and have never had a heart attack or anything like that.  My skips seem to be getting worse in that they are more frequent and seem to come together one after another. They are very adversely affecting my life because they come out of nowhere and I have NO CONTROL over them.  They have me convinced I could die from them because of how they feel! My questions are these:

1.  Is it safe to travel on an airplane with these?
2.  My Dr wants me to try Toprol but I have read so many negative things about it.  He says take it only when you feel a bout coming on. Make sense?
3.  If you feel them does that mean they are worse than if you don't?
4.  Once and for ALL, do PVC'S/PAC's lead to other heart problems?
5.  Can you recommend any reading to help us understand what they are and are not?


Thanks so much for what you do!    

[PikaPika88]

You can find out from doing a holter monitor.  Mine one showed 3.2 seconds "Pause" but the pacemaker didn't kick in.....  Not reliable?  It was in the day time around 2:15pm.

[NurseKagome]

i have done a few holters, maybe like 5 over the past 7 yrs. i have had all results come back fine,but i'm never symptomatic when i wear one.

i have found increasingly longer pauses (my own personal sensation) before the next beat kicks in. it scares me a lot.

[NurseKagome]

I have been having a new type of PVC (at least I think thats what it is) where it's a long pause (2-3secs) and a hard beat and I get a little dizzy and feel I may faint. This is really disturbing me and causing havic on my days. Anyone relate or have advice?

[Barbarella]

Carey, I travel often on planes and have with PVC's.  My advise is get to the airport early or at least the 3-4 hrs early they want you to show up before your plane leaves.  Running and rushing through the airport will bring on these PVC's.  Also, don't drink the strong Starbuck Coffee before boarding the plane. Once on the plane don't order anything with caffeine in it just to be on the safe side.  If they serve some kind of food or snacks eat it slow to prevent PVC's

I've found out in the past if I run and rush through the airport I will get PVC's big time.  Eating a full meal before boarding the plane I will get tons of PVC's after the meal.  Strong coffee will bring on PVC's in my case.  If I absulutely think I need a cup of coffee I go to Starbucks and tell them to fill half the cup with coffee and the rest with hot water and I will be fine.

But if I get to the airport early, do not eat a meal before boarding the plane and no strong coffee I will be fine.  If the PVC's do appear once on the plane they wont be as strong and frequent as if I had rushed, eating a meal or drank a strong cup of coffee.

[Momto3]

Inderal is a beta blocker. At one time, I took it on a daily basis.  Now, I am able to use it on an "as needed" basis for pvcs.

[PikaPika88]

Anyone has an idea?  Last time when I was in the airplane, my legs was very uncomfortable.  Put it up, put it down, straighten up, curves or what ever position still not right.  I think it is called the restless foot.  I didn't have any sleep so very tired.  I got down the plane on Monday and I was admitted in Saturday because the heart played up and the pacemaker was playing tricks.  I hope anyone had that experience can share and solve that with me.