Why are PVCs worse when lying down??

[MomPOM]

Now that I'm somewhat out of panic attack mode I can see that the PVCs aren't bad when I'm up and about but as soon as I lay down they are horrible.  That has me worried that it's not actually PVCs and it's something worse.

On the good news front, I was able to get in on a cancelled appointment for tomorrow with the card instead of having to wait until next week.

[MacShakespeare]

Mine are almost exclusively night time. Sleeping is a real box of work.  I work out daily and eat right.  No idea why sleeping or laying down magnifies them.

[Jon_M_D]

Not sure if you still check this post, but last night I was in the ER for this. I only notice it when laying flat on my back. The worse my anxiety gets, the more my heart goes crazy. If I sit up, they are gone. My mom also gets these and she said if changing positions stops it, you are probably fine. I had an EKG done and then was put on a monitor for a few hours and got a lot of blood work done. Essentially he said it is most likely PVCs and I am good enough to go home. He ordered in for me to get the 7 day monitor just to be on the safe side. Hopefully all goes well and I can put my mind at ease. Same with you as well. Stress and anxiety will only make it worse. If you feel no other symptoms, you are probably okay.

[danisdad]

This is not really an answer but my PVCs I have noticed are the same exact way there are horrible when I lay down especially on my back when I sit up they ease up when I walk around barely noticeable. Thank you for this for him answered some very scary questions my PVCs started all of a sudden yesterday went to the ER this morning it never caught on the EKG until I talk to a nurse in to holding my pulse on my wrist and telling her when I was having a PVC and she felt the change of my rhythm. She ordered an EKG longer than the average 10 seconds and they called it. I wish there were something that can make them go away for good I hate PVCs they are scary. By the way I'm 48 years old well 49 now. Last October 10th 2016 I had heart attack complete occlusion obtuse marginal stent placement.

[LetV_]

I started getting pvc 4 weeks ago.Im 50 perimenopsuse and I just try to relax breathing in the nose and out thru my mouth. This forum help me a lot knowing a lot of people has it too.

[Survived13]

PVCs are normal. Stop stressing and get some sleep if you want relief. I'm only 43 in good shape and I had a quad cabg two years ago. 100% occlusion in the Rdca. I get them after running 4km sometimes. Put on some music or focus on something until you pass out.

[achillea]

Benign PVCs do happen in response to changes in position--and in response to a whole bunch of things that make no sense.  However, the important thing to notice for those who have them is that you CAN physically do all the normal stuff you do every day.  You can walk around; you can shop; you can go up stairs; you can chase your kids.

You do NOT suffer the experiences of those who have critical heart conditions.  I refer to these symptoms:

Nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath so severe that you cannot take two steps; breaking out in a profuse, icy sweat that drenches your clothes; or a feeling that your chest is being sat on by an elephant or squeezed by a giant nutcracker.

If you experience any of *these,* yeah, you may have a heart problem.  

If not, you probably have an OK ticker--especially if you have already had many trips to the ER and several EKGs that show your ticker is OK.

[Haileys Mom]

Isn't it strange? I feel this way, too, a lot. I had an appt. at the cardiologist in January and I explained to her that I really notice the PVCs get worse or seem to 'come on all of a sudden' when I lay on my sides. This is a scary feeling, I know. She said she has other patients with PVC's that complain of this, too. The only thing she can offer is that it has to do with blood flow, but couldn't explain it effectively enough to really make a layman like myself understand it any better. I don't think there's any easy answer but many people feel this way.

Let me know if you find out anymore about this. Thanks for posting about it. I find it an elusive symptom that needs a good answer! LOL

[Frantically]

I get all those symptoms in the same way ..honestly i am tired of feeling that way..this is no life for me there is no answer..i go to ER .they send me home without hope i go with a cardiologist and all he told me is to stay away from fatty foods and red meats diet and exercise...i have a feeling they are weening me down from klonopin very slowly without them telling me..seems like they order my pills with less drug and more placibo and palpitations are the side effects..who know but im so tired of this daily srtuggle...pcs s are horrible i hate my life...

[anacyde]

I get that too.  Best I can figure is the changes in position cause changes in circulation and blood flow, and can trigger extra beats in those of us prone to them.  It's aggravating, yes, but I've found that sitting in bed a few minutes or relaxing before bed helps tremendously, even to the point of eliminating the issue many times.  Also, avoiding eating right before bed can help.  For me anyway.

[va_tony]

I think there are several reasons.  First, there are autonomic nervous system changes when you lie down--- for example, the ANS causes the heart rate to slow. Often PVCs, PACs and afib are vagally induced. So, in some people bedtime actually trigers their palps (as would eating certain foods, indigestion, drinking cold water, etc.).

Second, when you lie down you are motionless and have few distractions.  This makes it easier for you to notice the PVCs, whereas the same sensations would probably go unnoticed during the day when you are active, moving around and thinking of other things.

Also, analogous to taking your pulse with fingers against your wrist, just placing your side or back up against a mattress enhances the thud sensation.

Anyway.  Those are my guesses.

[AKreiss]

Great response. I never considered vagus stimulation caused by lying down, which is when my only"thud" occurs. For those who have more frequent pvc's, especially on their sides, I would think about whether the increased pressure on different structures may be causing the problem. Perhaps a wedge pillow might help.