Onset of PVCs

[Stakan]

I know there are a great deal of posts regarding PVCs, but I couldn't find what I was looking for. Sorry if this has been addressed before.

I am a 28 year-old male that has recently been diagnosed with an arrhythmia. I am active, I don't smoke, I eat healthy, and I don't drink any caffeine. A few months ago I started feeling strange muscle twitch-like sensations in my chest. After wearing a Holter Monitor, I was told that I am experiencing PVCs, but I shouldn't worry about them. That was the extent of the information that I was given from my primary care physician, who is doctor treating me and who simply ordered the monitor from a cardiologist that I never even saw.

I have been doing some reading on the PVCs and I think he was probably right in that I shouldn't worry about them for now. However, I have two questions. First, why did I just develop them all of a sudden at the age of 28? They were minimal when I wore the monitor, but over the past few months since first experiencing the them they have gone from non-existent to nearly all of the time. Second, does this condition present any concerns for future cardiac conditions?

Thank you.

[squeala7]

Kat - I have them too - at exercise. I just think when your out of shape, its worse. I think it can happen even to athletes as I have read and can still be benign. I think mostly its our anxiety - your right - as soon as we feel one, especially during exercise, they are much harder, and to me sometimes painful, it is scary and sends us into a tizzy. But I think they are much more forceful because your heart is working so much harder. I find that doing an exercise on an even keel like walking / something where the heart rate isnt up and down up and down, works better to keep it that way. When I really push it , I get the PVC's /the one time I had a treadmill test, the cardiologist (who is well known in Colorado) saw me throw a PVC when I got real exhausted and I said "SEE THERE IT IS" haha I was freaking out - and he just nodded his head. I said , is it because Im out of shape and he nodded. So I think Ill get into shape first, then if I stil have them, Ill tackle it then. But your so right - it is SOO scary and Ill be walking or exercising and WHAM! I stop and of course my heart rate goes up even more because now Im scared. They feel so hard during exercise that it scares me.but I dont have chest pain or dizziness / but if your hyperventilating - then you will get dizzy.

[krogers]

Yes, I'm taking hormones. but ,before i started taking hormones ,the palpitations were more numerous.
the nickname"hiccups of the heart" is a very good name for the feelings that i have. I am very much out of shape, but i am afraid to exercise much ,due to the fear of the palpitations.my mother has had a racing heart for about 30 yrs now, so that worries me. I constantly worry about everything. if its not my health , its something else. i know that doesn't help any.

[kat1929]

do you think exercise related PVCs decrease if you are in better shape?  i have had PVCs for many years, but usually would only get one or two every once in a while, when i was exercising very strenuously.  now i get them every time i exercise, and they last until 1 hour after exercise.  i think i feel light-headed too, although i am quite sure it's from the fear i feel when the PVCs start up.  i can't seem to get it through my head that PVCs are benign!!! ps. i am not in as good shape now as i have been in the past.

[squeala7]

Hi Krogers! I would try checking your hormones - are you on HRT? At your age-  you are at the perfect age for experiencing PVCs related to dropping estrogen/progesterone. It happens in 60% of women going through menopause. CHeck it out! If your not on HRT - you might be surprised how it can take care of your PVCs entirely. There are saliva tests you can take yourself, buy them online. Anywhere from $100-200 but its worth it - then you can take them to your Dr and get what your missing in a natural cream or natural pill. (hormones). Good luck!

[heartache]

Just a note to say that I have been relatively PVC free for a couple of weeks now and wanted to share this with you all.

I honestly cannot say exactly why the PVC's and all the other symptoms have mysteriously vanished for this period (kinda scary).  However, the general health of my chest is very good (comfortable) and the only symptoms I have are those that resemble flu or allergy.

Even more good news is that I have found a person who works for a clinic here in Seattle and has offered to help me with a number of tests to find out what is going on with my system. . . of course it would help to have symptoms to test (laughing) but we can wait till the return (AND THEY WILL RETURN, THEY ALWAYS DO).

I'll be sure to post what the tests reveal and if the docs can explain the heart/stomach connection.  I also want to mention that my blood pressure was way up a few weeks ago that might have contributed to the dizzyness, the eye glazing, and the chest tightness.  I recommend everyone keeping check of their blood pressure and changes (however slight) in their daily stress levels.  If you are experiencing ANY changes in your life - however small - keep a journal of these changes and correlate them to your periods of PVC discomfort, etc.  You'd be surprised by how life's "little" changes have "big" consequences with your system.

Things to check:

-Good diet
-SLEEP!
-Stress over little changes (especially job and relationships)
-Food allergies or reactions to various materials/chemicals
-Ellimination of other health conditions unrelated to PVC that contribute to overal stress but are not PVC-related symptoms
-Overthinking/focusing on symptoms and daily discomforts - this will kill you.
-Physical stress: get a deep massage from time-to-time and drink PLENTY of water!  Toxins in the body can cause all kinds of terror.  And when you get the massage, have someone you love do it, so you really relax and feel a love connection with this person - you'll thank me for this one.

I hope everyone is hanging in there and continue to contribute to this thread.  Enjoy any period you have between discomforts and really make the most of it . . . don't sit-about waiting for the next (innevitable) PVC to crash your party - we must break the circle of doomed thought!  I'm going to enjoy my breather while it lasts.

Lots of love to you all and keep the faith!  Again, I'll keep you posted as to any diagnosis and treatment the docs provide 'when' I finally see them.

-Heartache

[mis596]

I was recently diagnosed with Paroxsymal Atrial Tachycardia.
Does anyone else have this.  What caused this and what is
the treatment for this?