Should I be worried?

[Maran]

I started having about 12-15 palpitations an hours about 2 months ago. It came out of nothing. I am 24 yead old male, Non
drinker, Non Smoker and otherwise healthy. I workout moderately about 3-4 hours in a week.

About a month ago I went to my doctor and he had my blood checked for thyroid, and had me wear holter monitor for 24 hours.
Blood test was normal and holter monitor showed some PVCs. The holter monitor read as follows:

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Indication - 24 year old male with palps.

Interpretation: (1)Underlying rhythm during this tracing is normal sinus rhythm. (2) Occassional ventricular ectopic events are noted, totalling 400 isolated PVC's and 4 ventricular couplets. (3) Rare supraventricular ectopic events were noted totalling 3 isolated PAC's. (4) No interventricular or atrial ventricular conduction abnormalities were noted. (5) Over 100 diary entris of the symptom of "One thump" are noted in four pages of diary entries which were attached. During these multiple symptoms of "One thump or two thumps:, the patient has underlying isolated monomorphic PVC.

Impression: Occasional isolated PVC's which are associated with patient's recorder symptoms as described above.

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Accroding to my Doctor, my PVCs are benign and I don't need to worry about this. He also mentioned that the palps may or may not disappear over the time. So far the palps still exist. I fill much better at my house, about 3-4 palps per hour, but at work from 10-4, the palps are much higher 12-15 per hour.

I don't know what's going on. So far I haven't had any other signs of heart disease such as short-breadth or chest pain.

My question is how can I get rid of this? I am really worried about this, and belive that the worries also contributing the palps. Please give me some advise. Should I change my life style? It is true that for the last 4-5 months, I have been worried about little things unnecessarily. Also I have seen that I have lost concentration, watch a lot og TV, etc.

Thank you for your earliest attention.

Maran

[Jonathan]

Maran:

I have had similar symptoms and tests done recently (although, with completely negative results -- no PVCs).  I was quite worried about these symptoms for sometime.  The best advice I can give you is this:  For someone your age, who has been thoroughly checked out by an MD, the chances of something catastrophic happening to your heart are almost zero.  Definitely, look to have the Heart Forum MD comment on your holter results...I am not a doctor.  However, my guess is that he/she will agree that you have absolutely nothing to be concerned about.  Anyway, that is what your MD has already told you -- right?  Take care.

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

Benign PVCs do not damage the heart.

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

While I often do a stress echocardiogram in patients with PVCs who are referred to me, the utility of this test in a young healthy person is probably extremely low.

[PVC King]

I have dealt with PVC's and PAC's for 26 years. I am a 46 year old professional in a high stress occupation.  Only over the last year have I finally come to grips with this "problem."  I have come to accept that they will not harm me. (It takes some of us longer to learn these things.}  I have reduced the number of them I was having via these things:  
1.  Avoid stimulants - caffiene, smoking and the like.
2.  Avoid stress (not possible for me but maybe you).
3.  Relax!!!  I'm serious here, consider calling a local mental health office and ask if they do biofeedback for relaxation.  I did this - it was worth double what little I paid!  Don't hype yourself up,  sit in quiet solitude and relax.  You must learn relaxation techniques.
4.  Take multi-vitamins - including magnesium - EVERY DAY!

I have taken Atenelol etc. and I feel that they made my life more miserable than it was.  Side effects were not worth what little they did for me.  I think any good doctor worth his/her salt and who tells you they won't hurt you shouldn't be giving you these pills.

I strongly suggest you speak with your doctor about taking something that might help you deal with the anxiety you might be suffering from when you have these skips.  Take a look at Paxil - www.paxil.com.  

There are no current studies being conducted on PVC's according to the American Heart Association.  Since the condition is considered "benign" - resources will not be wasted.  Good luck.

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

Frankly, I think the supplements you mention have no real affect on PVCs other than serving as an expensive placebo.

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

I really would recommend leaving it to the discretion of your doctor. No amount of testing is likely to find anything wrong in young healthy people with PVCs. On the other hand, in an older patient with chest pain or other serious symptoms, further testing, including stress testing (either with or without an echo) is often indicated.