Should i avoid PVCs?

[hazarada]

Hello, im 24 and have the occasional PVC's. Usually 0 - 3 a day that happen just randomly but a lot more when i play games.

Gaming has always triggered a really heavy fight or flight response from my body - my hands get shaky, i start sweating, time slows waay down and my heart goes 200+ bpm. I used to think it was a blessing since it gives me a great edge against other players but when i started getting the random PVC's, i also started getting them pretty much guaranteed while gaming in the most stressful situations.

Initially they were so distracting that they broke my focus and caused me to avoid these kinds of situations which led me to quit those kinds of games for a few years. I couldn't stay away though and have been on/off for a while as much as i dared to.

Medically i had a whole lot of tests done from a holter monitor to a echo cardiogram. The one thing off was a mild MVP that was said to be not doing anything bad at all. The PVC count didn't impress my doctor either. Still i worry, pretty much my entire family tree has died from heart disease, all though at an old age. Should i keep away from things that cause my PVC's? Does it matter?

[MichelleP_3811]

I use to play games where you had to fight for your life and my flight or flight was extremely high, to me it was too stressful so I now only play games that require me to figure things out.  But if you enjoy the adrenaline rush from it then no worries.  If you are basically only getting them when you get worked up with the games then that is likely your trigger but you might want to watch your diet to see if that is contributing.  Things like acid reflux can trigger the beats as well.  Take care.

[hazarada]

I do realize that there are folks with thousands of palps per day and i must look like a whiny ***** to them ;D I do have a principle in life though which is to do everything in my power to solve the problem, after I've done that i can have no worry, no regrets. I cant get rid of this nagging feeling though that theres something more i can do or something else to consider.

[hazarada]

I do think games can make you a better person. They taught me how to deal with anger and frustration. The online interaction with the lovely people is great for growing a thicker skin. Then there is some coordination and quick decision making skills..

I'm not saying these lessons are exclusive to games nor that its the best place to get them but it's a way.. I've probably gotten all the personal improvement possible out of them a long time ago and theres no real reason to continue gaming but what I'm left with is something that entertains me, a lot.

[hazarada]

Its not like i get emotionally distressed during the gameplay, anger and such was a thing when i was 12 :p and as i soon found out was of better use to the enemy than myself.

It is connected to something relating to gratification though, i think. It only happens when i play to win with nothing else inhibiting me. Regardless, the only way i know how to get rid of it is to give up on doing my best, to not care so much. And thats when i start losing.. and no more sense of achievement. I know its a shallow place to look for good feelings and its not like i cant do without it but i just like it :D

[aembry]

I think you are worrying for nothing.  As long as your test are normal then they are completely harmless. Many people on this board suffer thousands of palps a day with no harm, it would be a blessing to many of us to only have a few a day!

[tom_h]

I agree. I would say that an occasional PVC is (dare I say) perfectly normal.  As an older but tech save adult, I look at games in general and ask if they educate or make me a better person in general.  After consideration, I don't participate in them.

[MichelleP_3811]

For my understanding stress related pvcs are not a concern for doctors.  It is when the heart is diseased that they become a concern.  However stress in general can affect the heart over time.  It is hard on the heart so you might want to think about how you can calm yourself down during the intense game play.  Cooler heads prevail they say, maybe if you find out how to overcome the fight or flight response you might become an even better gamer.  Anyways, I am not a doctor so I would pose the question to them to be certain but if they are not causing you concern or concerning symptoms like severe shortness of breath or passing out then you likely have nothing to worry about.  Especially if you live an otherwise heart healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise.  Take care.