Cold and PVC's?

[dbranden]

I have frequent PVC's and bigeminy, but the past 2 days my heart has been extra irritated it seems. I am getting all sorts of PVC's, my heart rate is about 20 beats faster per minute than what it normally is, and I have had several episodes the past 2 days where it seems to pause and then speed up fast for a few seconds. I am coming down with a cold today and feel kind of achey. Anyone else experience similar things when they get a cold? It is kind of scaring me, even though I have had all of the tests in the past to confirm that my heart is ok. I just hate palps and these are really bad. I wish I had someone to talk to about this because my husband is tired of hearing about it!
Thanks for listening.

[PVC man]

I find a cold often makes PVCs worse, ESPECIALLY when associated with a fever...

It sounds corny but drink a lot of fluids and get lots of rest...

[dburris]

I am having the same things right now.  I found this post and it has helped tremendously!  I'm so glad!  I never new this was here!  I sure could've used it over the past two years!  I started getting a sinus headache yesterday and today woke up with a very sore throat and sinus pressure.  My heart has been fluttery all afternoon and evening and I took an extra pill, as my EP suggested.  It has seemed to help.  I just feel wiped out any time I have any type of flutter nowadays!  Thanks for your help!

[Artaud]

Hi,

I'm glad that you verified the fever, yet I am sorry that you have one (a cold, that is).

From an online source: "Sinus tachycardia is a normal increase in the heart rate. It is caused when the sinus node sends out signals faster than usual. It often occurs with fever, excitement and exercise. No treatment is needed".

Sinus Tachycardia is a heart rate over 100 beats per minute. From the above paragraph, the statement that I wish to emphasize is that a fever can cause Sinus Tachycardia, therefore, it can also cause an elevation in the rate that is below 100, yet above the normal resting rate. Perhaps the elevated rate, along with other physiological changes that occur in response to the cold, may be responsible for your additional PVCs.

If you have not already done so, and if you are tolerant to Tylenol, you might take 1/2 the normal dosage and see if that helps (I suggest 1/2 the dosage since I don't know if Tylenol effects your PVCs). If you are ok with that, consider the full dosage next time it's called for on the bottle. Never exceed the dosage amount listed on the bottle (without your Doctor's consent, whether or not the individual taking the medication suffers from an arrhythmia).

Alternately, you might try Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) in a similar fashion (rather then the Tylenol) if you know that you are tolerant to it.

See if you can get the fever down to normal with something that you know doesn't effect your heart rhythm. Get rest (yeah, right, at Christmas Time, get rest LOL ;-)

Get some sleep, preferably a restive sleep (uninterrupted).

Have a Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday, and a Healthy and Happy New Year.

[dbranden]

Thank you for the reponses. It helps to feel that I am not alone. I did take my temperature after reading your post and found that I did have a fever, so that explains a lot. I had 2 ablations for IST in 2003 and it seems my symptoms are ever changing--my heart is always finding a new way to act up! I struggle a lot with fear of these palps. I can't seem to convince myself that I am ok. I had a serious complication during my first ablation and much of my anxiety seems to stem from that. It was literally the most frightening experience of my life. Anyway, thanks for listening and for responding. It means a lot to me.

[kitcurious]

Also, if you take  OTC cold medicines it can make them more frequent.

[Thinline]

Sure getting a cold or any other illness could set your heart off.  Mine always goes haywire before I get sick.  I wouldn't think it is anything out of the ordinary.  Dont' feel like you have nobody to talk to.  Thats why we come here, so we can talk to each other.  The people on the forum are always helpful and supportive, and I have found that they listen all the time.  

I must be honest in saying that I try to say as little to my husband or anyone else close to me if my heart is feeling dodgy, I wouldn't want them to panic or even know the truth about how I feel, so you don't need to go through this alone, we all help each other.

Maybe also the holiday season is causing a bit of stress which could be the trigger for what you call the extra heart irritation.  As soon as you can, go get checked out by your doc just to be sure.

[Wills2016]

I have been diagnosed fairly recently with PACs (as well as hypertension) and I usually deal with them. I was having them left and right yesterday and read your post thinking, "Hmm, my family has been passing around this cold or something for a while." Sure enough, this morning I woke up with a tickle in my throat that has gotten worse. Between that and stress in my job I can definitely say with some degree of certainty why this happened yesterday. It's been better today. i just wish the tickle in my throat would go away.

[Artaud]

Hi,

Concerning the PVCs, getting a cold does indeed seem to cause some people to experience more of them.

I was a work one day, experiencing many more PVCs that normal. Eventually I became so worried that I phoned for the In-Plant Ambulance to take me to the Medical Center (also in plant). Just as I phoned, I noticed that my pulse while at rest was higher than normal. I took 1/4 of an Atenolol that I carry in case I neglected to take my morning dose, or if I have problems. (My Doctor already said that it was OK for me to take a small amount more of Atenolol, a Beta Blocker, if I had "bad days".) Shortly after taking the extra Atenolol, my pulse began to lower, so that by the time the Plant EMTs arrived I was hardly having any PVCs. Of course, by the time they got me to the Medical Center, I wasn't having any. The Medical Center did an EKG which was normal. I was released back to work. I do believe that I was coming down with a cold at the time.

I know of other times as well when I was beginning to get sick and noticed more PVCs, often this is the first indication that something is wrong (sickness wise). As my wife explained, as you get sick, your temperature often rises, as does your pulse rate and respiration. Try taking your temperature and seeing if it is somewhat higher than normal.

How long ago were you evaluated (the tests you mention). If it was a long time ago, consider going back for a reevaluation if your problems continue.

Merry Christmas ♫♫ and Happy New Year.