PVC's and Alcohol

Question

My brother died on May 2nd of this year (2010). I was diagnosed with PVC's 2 months later. Is it normal for PVC's to take your breath away? Sometims I feel as though my breath is shortened. I have become completely concious of my heart and breathing and feel like it almost made it worse. I have also been prescribed metoprolol, which seems to help but makes me super tired so i take it at night. So I'm completely in the dark about this, except for what i have stated. How do I stop this and can diet or daily activity help? Any or all information would be much appreciated....Thank you.

This discussion is related to PVC'S and Alcohol.

CFletcher1971 · Answer

I have PVCs and they are almost always associated with shortness of breath or "can't breath" for a second. I asked my cardiologist about it and he said not to worry, but it sure is a scary feeling. It is weird how my heart's electrical system is associated with breathing when I have PVCs. 

I am 40 years old, fit, but I drink 2-3 drinks a day... I know that's not good for you necessarily, but it is what it is. It actually helps me regulate stress and sleep good. If I dirnk MORE than that, it provokes PVCs, sleep sweats, and is just not good. Like last night I had a bunch of beers because I was watching the Broncos vs. Steelers playoff game and getting caught up in it all... today I am having PVCs. No surprise there.

Avery618 · Answer

I don't get PVCs as often as a lot of people that post here, but I still hate them. Even just one or two a day is enough to cause some anxiety. (I have a history of SVT so any disturbance in my heart beat bothers me.) I know this from watching myself on a monitor while having a PVC. Most feel like a "thump" inside the chest, some like a flutter, but there are a few here and there that feel like a sudden "gasp." Like a sudden taking away of the breath. I actually prefer that sensation to the other two.

jonboy252 · Answer

I began to have frequent PVCs (Bigeminy) with shortness of breath during a stressful period in my life.  I started taking beta blockers, which made me sluggish and itchy, and began exercising less.  This led to a downward spiral until I stopped drinking alcohol and coffee. That was difficult for me, but it was worth it.  The frequency of my PVcs has since diminished and I went back on my old blood pressure medicine (instead of the beta blocker). I believe that these lifestyle changes saved my quality of life, if not my life itself.

jondsam · Answer

PVC's sometimes come and go, but for the most part pvc's dont ever go away.  If you have shortness of breath with them, more than likely you may have short runs of back to back pvc's.  I have NSVT and sometimes it makes me light headed.  Doctors believe my condition is benign even with NSVT.  For the most part if you do not have heart disease pvc's are a relatively benign condition.  Sometimes down the road in life if you have pvcs frequently enough it can cause cardiomyopathy.