When is it too many PACs/PVCs?

[Roys]

Earlier this week I went through a period of 4 plus hours when I was having 15 to 18 PVCs/PACs per minute. I was relaxed, sitting and watching TV. I had no other symptoms and getting up and moving around did not affect them. This was still going on when I went to bed. Typically, I experience 4-6 PVCs/PACs per minute. With a resting pulse of 60-70, this was one every 4th beat, although they were not that regular.

When is it too many? Should I have gone to the ER? Could it have been something other than PVCs/PACs? The next morning, I was below 10 per minute. I made an appointment to see my cardiologist to discuss this but I am now anxious to understand if I should have done something.

Thank you very much for reviewing my question!

[piper]

HI,

I'm a 34 year old male with your EXACT same symptoms. I too, am recently a new parent and the episodes came around just about with the arrival of our little bundle of joy! Let me tell you something...kid's are stressful!! Especially babies. Stress brings on these PVC's and PAC's and I'm sure you're getting plenty of stress. You've seen a doctor, he gave you the diagnosis...now you have to learn to live with it. They don't kill you, they're just a nuisance. The anxiety that comes along after an attack can even mimic a heart attack. It's no fun feeling like there is something wrong with your heart! Just remember, it happens to a lot of people...we're all still here and breathing and we'll be here for a long time! When you're having an "episode" of PVC's just get your mind on something else. Go somewhere and walk around. Go to the mall or beach. Drink lots of liquid. No caffeine or chocolate or coffee or soda or alcohol or cigarettes. Take your vitamins. RELAX!!! And as far as thinking that you're going to die, I bet you'll bury us all!! (Please make sure we're dead!!)

Take care and good luck,

Piper

[Kurgles]

Hi!  This is my first time commenting.  I have had PAC's for about 15 years.  I was put on 25 mg. of atenolol after a 24 hour holter monitor was put on and I had over 2000 PAC's.  The atenolol worked real well for a few years but the past three weeks I have been having PAC's constantly.  If I get up and walk or do anything as light as housework they really seem to come on.  The other night I was having runs of them, one right after another.  I would get up, change positions, whatever I could do and then it would revert back to a normal sinus rhythm for a few minutes and then it would start all over again.  It is really driving me crazy.  Even sitting here at the computer I can feel 1 about every 20 seconds or so.  I just did another holter yesterday but won't have the results until next week. It's not very comforting to know I have to wait more days to find out somelthing.  Has anyone had to have the ablation therapy for PAC's?  I've read a little on it.  The doctors always say don't worry about it, PAC's are harmless yet PAC's are usually what triggers other arrythmias such as PAT's, Atrial tach, etc.  Then they say well, as long as you are not symptomatic, (dizzy, lightheaded, etc.) go on with business as usual.  Well, it is not very comforting just waiting to see if today is going to be the day you get symptomatic.  Any suggestions?  I'm tired of my heart thumping, flipping and flopping!  Thanks!

[gpkid]

Hi everybody,

I started having PVC's about 10 months ago.  I went to 2 doctors, had all of the tests done and just about drove myself crazy trying to figure out what was worng with me.  The doctor's didn't seem concerned, but I was.  It has taken me this long to get them to completely stop.  Here is what I did that may help you:

1)  Cut out all caffeine.  I MEAN all (even chocolate)!
2)  Do not do strenuous weight workouts.  Avoid chest press, shoulder press, and lying tricep press with heavy weights.  For those of you who do not lift weights, avoid strenuous activities at work/home.  Taking a 2 week break from lifting weights REALLY helped me.
3)  Drink plenty of water.
4)  Eat your fruits and vegetables (or get a juicer like I did).
5)  Get plenty of sleep every night (at least 7 hours).
6)  Start a light cardiovascular workout and build up from there.
7)  Sleep on your back.
8)  Take a multi-vitamin or herb supplements that have been mentioned.
9)  RELAX!!!!!   I used to worry myself into PVC's.  You are going to be fine.  The more you think about it the worse it gets.

I can't stress enough the importance of cutting out all caffeine and limiting heavy weight lifting.

Good luck!

[Sam R]

Try magnesium, potasium, fish oil capsules and hawthorn berry capsules ( it's a herb you can find in the vitamin section at any store).  This combo did wonders for me. Hope you have the same results.   (and please calm down)

[ShamrockShelly]

Hello all,
Please anyone that can give advice , please do. I am a 24 year old new mom and have experienced PAC's and PVC's for the first time last night.
I have never had anything like this before and it scared me so much that I did ALOT of praying and then went straight to the ER. Where they promptly told me that I had PAC/occasional PVC's.
The PACs are fairly often maybe 1 or 2 a minute with the PVC's one about every 10-20 minutes. Compared to what some of you have put down this seems to be a low amount but I am still TERRIFIED.
I am already suffering from Post Partum (my daughter is 3 months old) and I am trying my hardest not to freak out but I find it difficult to accept that this is a normal thing.

My heart thumps in my chest, if that is a PAC (which the DR told me was just an extra heartbeat) then why cant I feel my other regular heartbeats? And if this is disrupting the normal rythym of our hearts then why cant it cause our hearts to stop?
I am seriously not sleeping because of the fear that I will not be able to get to a phone or help before I die.
Maybe I have an overactive fear of death but this scares the heck out of me!
Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you sooooo much to anyone that can help or respond....my email is ***@****

PS they seem to become worse when I lay on my left side. I am overweight but I have given up caffeine (tea soda choclate etc, I dont smoke and I dont drink coffee or alcohol) because I dont want to do anything to aggrivate it. Is there anything else that makes it worse? I cant help the stress because I have a new baby but I will try like hell =)
Does anyone know anything about Prozac's effects on it? My DR is considering putting me on it for depression. What about alcohol? I am going to a big New Years party, need to know what to avoid.

[wilson-wilson]

Arthur said; "I only wish I knew what substances may actually affect the foci in the opposite direction...now that would be nice."

The "substances" that-might-just-do-that, are probably illegal! <G>

Since the blood flows through the Pulmonary Vein [from lungs] to the heart, one just may have to "smoke" something?! <BIG GRIN>

wilson-wilson