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!    

[Carey01]

Those are very good ideas.  I do tend to get them after a big meal and definetely if I'm rushing.  It seems like the second I sit down and relax ..BOOM! They hit! Iget nervous flying anyway so it really doesn't help.

I'll try those ideas for sure.

[suzy61]

what is inderal

[Momto3]

I've traveled by air with lots of pvcs....Inderal helped me when I had a really bad bout of them.....I think the anxiety associated with some air travel can elevate the traveler's awareness of pvcs.

Have a great trip : )

[Fran71]

Do try the BB if they bother you! I take Inderal for PVCs and sinus tachycardia, sometimes as needed, on some bad periods daily, and it usually works wonders for me. BBs don't work the same way for everyone but it's surely worth a try. I had no side effects whatsoever (except some fatigue at the beginning but I'm almost certain it was psychological).

[Forum-M.D.-MJM]

Hello,

1. Is it safe to travel on an airplane with these?

Absolutely.

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?

Some people have fatigue when they initially start a beta blocker.  After a month or so, this subsides in most people.  If you take beta blockers as needed, you may have more beta blocker related fatigue on the days you take them.  Either approach may work for you, just be aware the side effects tend to decrease with time.

3. If you feel them does that mean they are worse than if you don't?

No.

4. Once and for ALL, do PVC'S/PAC's lead to other heart problems?

Not that simple.  The vast majority of people with PVCs/PACs do not develop heart problems because of them.  The next question is of those that do develop heart problems, was there PVCs simply the first manifestation of their underlying problem and did it really cause them.  We aren't good a teasing these subtlties out yet.  In general, people with structurally normal hearts should not be concerned about developing a cardiomyopathy unless there are other clues that it might not be that simple -- family history, syncope (passing out), etc.  This is why it is important that you see a doctor for this problem.  The internet can be helpful, but for every one person that meet that the internet helps, I meet many more that are inappropriately scared because of something they read.

5. Can you recommend any reading to help us understand what they are and are not?

Unfortunately, I don't know of a good resource out there.  I think this forum is helpful.

Thanks for posting.