Skips During Exercise?

[sinead]

Needing some help from my friends here... I know we have talked about this subject out here many times before... I paged back quite a bit & couldn't find anything recently... so I thought I'd ask....

I have heard that exercise is supposed to STOP the skipped beats... well I have started riding the bike for about a 1/2 hour per day & notice it happening off & on during the workout.... do I need to be worried about this?  I know that cardio is obviously good for our hearts.... so?

Do any of you get the flops & skips during exercise?
Is it OK to just ignore them & keep going?

Thanks ever so much everyone ;)

[iamfaithful]

My therapist has already told me it's anxiety...sometimes I believe it, sometimes I try to make it something bigger and uglier!  I know pretty  much what is is triggered by.  My husband and I lost a very close friend suddenly.....he literally dropped dead in front of my husband and I had to go and tell his wife.  This happened almost three years ago.....lost my husbands Uncle suddenly from lung cancer this year and three days later my Grandmother died.  My anxiety started before the last two events but it hasn't made it any better, you know what I mean.  I know what my fears are, what they have always been and losing a friend suddenly who was so young-32 just didn't help.  So....I am trying to deal with that on a daily basis.  I feel like a coward because it happened in front of my husband and he is not dealing w/skipped beats, etc.  His wife should be the basket case, but she isn't  dealing with it either, and she is hurting the most.  

Sorry, didn't mean to write a book and babble on and on, but I just wanted to let you know that I think that's where my anxiety is coming from.  Especially being obsessed with the heart issues.

I love cool weather, so I am really going to try my best to go out walking tonight-even in the dark.  The PVC's just freak me out so badly that I don't know how I will react when I get them while exercising, but I will make a concious effort to try.

You know, that happend to me a few months back, getting them every other beat.  I went to the herb shop and the lady let me sample something like "noni juice" but it had traces of caffeine in it!  I was so mad at her and myself for not asking beforehand.  Anyway, my heart started racing, I thought I was going to faint and I made my husband take me home.  My heart eventually slowed down but the pvc's started, a thump every other beat.  I called the ER to see if I should go in, called a cousin who works in the ER....I was going NUTSO!  But I noticed once I got so fed up w/it and drifted off to sleep-they dissapeared.  

I am already on a beta blocker and have a bottle of Xanax to use when needed.

Thanks for information, it's really appreciated!

[dquenzer]

If you think it is anxiety I would go to a counselor to determine if it is a general anxiety disorder or what the anxiety is triggered by.  I had the same problem when I was getting PAC's. There are times I would get PAC attacks where I was getting them every other beat.  It was horrible.   So my doctor sent me to a biofeedback specialist.  I was able to turn off the anxiety reaction by some biofeedback exercises.  I also did 20 minutes of relaxation twice a day.  You learn to slow your heart rate and relax every part of your body.  It is very therapeutic.  It helped and in time I was able to go back to running.   Also there are meds out there to help with general anxiety disorder that are not addictive.  

[PVC man]

I love to jog and used to find that I could run and never get a PVC.  Well, now that I'm in my 40s THAT sure has changed.  I find that I DO get PVCs during a run...my cardio actually caught a lot during my stress echo early 2007...he said that it was not a big deal at all and to keep running.

I find that the PVCs are dramatically reduced for me if I build up slow so now I walk 1/2 a mle before starting to run...MUCH BETTER and I saw a great article once that said that those of us prone to PVCs should never just "take off running."

What I DO FIND though, is that excercise DOES tend to eliminate my PVCs for a period of hours AFTERWARDS in many cases.  My cardio said excercise can only help so DON"T QUIT.

When I used to get them while running I used to totally freak out...now though I just slow down a little, take a deep breath, turn up the IPOD to 10 volume, and I feel better.

By the way, I assume you had a recent stress right just to be sure...:)?

We're here for you and feel better!!!!!

[iamfaithful]

Oh and you are probably right.  When I get them I tense up real bad and sit and "wait" for them to continue for days on end.  So I am sure that I am fueling them-can you really do that-fuel them, bring them on?

[iamfaithful]

Well they have gotten less frequent of the past few months.  I usually get them after my cycle for a day, maybe two.  I used to experience them lots in one day when this first started for me; but I am on a beta blocker and I have been seeing a therapist for my anxiety issues.  I did start walking a few weeks ago; however, it's a joke.  I walk at a normal pace for about 10 min. and that's all I can stand to do because of my fear.  I want to walk so I sweat, and I'm not doing that at all.  I used to work out very frequently, and work out hard.  
I thought in the beginning I may have to visit an EP specialist, but my doctor thinks its anxiety.  And since I have worn the monitors twice now I tend to agree.  It's just when they go away for a few weeks and then come back all of a sudden, it's real hard to deal with.
Someone else suggested that intense cardio would help me......maybe I will give it a try next week :-)

[dquenzer]

What is the frequency of your PVC's?  Your fear is probably adding fuel to the fire.  I would start out excercising very slowly so that you get used to the idea that you can exercise OK.  If you have been checked out there is no reason to quit altogether.  If you are having large numbers of in the thousands per day I would go to an EP specialist.  I know it is very difficult to exercise when your heart does unusual things.  So try to do a little bit to get adapted over time.

[iamfaithful]

I have been afraid to exercise because of them.  I just started getting them in May 07 and haven't really exercised since.  I used to run, eliptical, weights....but no more.  I was planning on giving it a try this week, but I had a bad weekend w/PVC's and now I am afraid again.  These things can really ruin the quality of life for some.

[dquenzer]

By "NO" I meant they aren't going to hurt you.

[dquenzer]

No.  I had PAC's during exercise starting at age 39.  I'm now 52.  I don't have them as much anymore due to an ablation for AFIB four years ago.  I still get them from time to time during and not during exercise.  I know they are not pleasant and are annoying.  If you have checked things out with your doctor then continue to exercise moderately.  These things tend to come and go.  You might find they will dissipate over time, but exercise may or may not help.  Exercise does help in reducing anxiety and stress that may be a source of the skipped beats.  If you continue to exercise with them you will eventually adapt and become more comfortable with them.  That will help your mental attitude.

[shaelakita]

Hi there. I am new to the world of PVC's. I have been having them for about 4 weeks. I just finished a 24 hour holter montior and I am awaiting the results from that. I am an avid "gym rat" While I am lifting weights I have few, if any, PVC's. Cardio however is another story. Sometimes I have mnay, sometimes only a couple, and sometimes none at all. I just keep plugging along. Obviously thought if you feel any other symptoms, such as dizziness or faintness, you should probably take the intensity down a notch. Hope this helps.
Michaela