Sudden increase in frequency of skipped beats :(

[gothic_beauty]

Hi there everyone,

I have been vehemently reassured by my family doctor, my cardiologist, and numerous members of this forum that my skipped heartbeats are benign, and I have been trying my best to have confidence in that fact. However, I have recently been experiencing a much higher than normal number of skipped beats that have elevated my anxiety levels to the same extent. During the three years that I have been plagued with PVCs and PACs, I have normally felt no more than a few per week, and I would be blessed with periods of time when I would feel none at all. At worst, I would feel 2-5 per day. For the past three days, however, that number has quadrupled itself. I have felt at least 15-20 skipped beats per day, including periods of time in which they have occurred at a rate of 1-2 per minute. After the first bad day, I thought that I would be granted a reprieve, but I was wrong. The skips just won't stop. I am frightened that they are going to keep getting worse, and that their sudden aggressiveness indicates a weakening of my heart or an imbalance of some kind in my body. I admit that last week was a stressful week for me for a number of reasons, but the stress eased up before I started to feel the skipped beats. I understand that an increase in stress could translate to an increase in skipped beats, but when the stress goes away, shouldn't the skips do the same? I can think of no other possible trigger for these awful problems: I have eaten and slept normally, and undergone no other discernible lifestyle changes. As we all do, I just wish that my heart could behave normally. I'm scared; does anyone have any advice to ease my frazzled spirit??

Merry Christmas to all ... I wish you all a happy and heart-healthy season!

[LaonaBeach]

My PVCs are relatively mild compared to some of the posts here, but they very bothersome.  I really enjoy a wine or beer watching football, but the PVCs scared me enough to stop triggers like alcohol.

One of the posts recommended cayenne pepper.  I tried it, and it works for me!  I put a teaspoon of cayenne in a half glass of warm water, and the PVCs are gone in less than 2 minutes.  Some people use cayenne tablets, and there is also a cayenne tincture (extract) that might even be better.  I have cayenne in my purse, at work, and at home just in case.

Has anyone else tried cayenne pepper to stop PVCs?

[gothic_beauty]

Thank you guys all so, so, SO much for your amazing advice and support. You have no idea how reassuring it is to read about other people's experiences and to benefit from their knowledge, in order to put these pesky problems in perspective. I continue to experience far more skipped beats than normal, but I am not nearly as freaked out by them as I was. I think that if they persist, I will contact my cardiologist and get his opinion, but you all have given me renewed confidence that even if my arrhythmia troubles me, it's not going to end my life. I am praying that my heart calms down in the next couple of days, but I'm happy that it didn't have to ruin my Christmas, and confident that it won't ruin the days that follow. Thank you all again, and I will keep you posted!

[Genome911]

So sorry those things are bothering you right now! I assume you have been checked for hyperthyroidism, electrolyte abnormalities, and other medical issues that are associated with PVCs. I didn't see your age but... Here's what I understand in general about PVCs/PACS:  in the absence of structural heart disease (coronary artery disease or abnormality, cardiomyopathy/thickening of the heart wall or dilation of the chambers, etc), cardiologists & electrophysiologists don't get too excited unless a) there are symptoms other than palpitations (like passing out) or b) if they exceed 10%-20% of daily total heartbeats. The average heart beats a little over 100,000 times per day, so that would be well over 10,000-20,000 ectopics per day, & even then, the chance of developing any heart problem from them is quite low and most often reversible.

Also, many people with benign (idiopathic) PVCs get them following the natural elevation of heart rate when the heart rate slows- like during exercise recovery period or after a stressful moment. This coincides with activation of the parasympathetic nervous system (vagus nerve) as the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) winds down. Others can have them during sympathetic nervous system activation. Stress hormones (sympathetic nervous system) bind to heart muscle cells (beta-1 receptors) and change the biochemistry & their membranes resulting in irritability and inappropriate firing- that's why beta blockers are often effective. Lifestyle modification can help us- so if you do not currently have a healthy lifestyle (moderate exercise/meditation/healthy diet & weight, low level of emotional reactivity, no substance abuse), that can be something to work on and will probably have a greater effect on health and quality of life now and in the future than dealing with benign PVCs. Easier said than done for sure, especially when the palpitations are bad!

[sauct]

doNOT worry about pvcs i have them for years my last 24hr. holter .rmonitor showed 15,000.yes 15000 in 24 hours i have tried to learn to live with them.magnesium glycinate can help but beta blockers send your heart rate  way DOWN. please remember that even at 15000 aday THEY ARE HARMLESS,

[MichelleP_3811]

I know it is a bit disconcerting but the amount you are having is really very small and not at all a threat to you.  I have hundreds a day and at times it goes into the thousands and my heart is a sound as can be.  There are a number of reasons why we get ectopics but the stress you were under may have simply irritated the heart and thus brought on the extra ectopics.  It may have taken that amount of time for them to kick in or it could be the slowing of your heart rate after the stress was gone that brought them on but I would not doubt that they will subside with your heart given a little time to calm down.  So just try to do your best to ignore them.  I know easier said than done but it is your best bet to not let these things take over your life.  Stay strong.  

[FLIPPINPATTY]

That amount of skipped beats is considered normal. It's nothing. I promise you. The doctors don't even bat an eye unless your having thousands a day & it's affecting your heart function & that rarely happens. PVC's & PAC'S are benign and cause no harm to your heart. Best is try to ignore them when they start up. Get moving and focus on something else. I know they can be scary, I get couplets and sometimes every few beats for hours. They are annoying, but not dangerous.

[is_something_wrong]

I feel the same. It's very common now.

You see, when you actually are stressed, you don't feel so much skipped beats. It's when the stress is about to go away you do. I have no good idea why, it's just that way. That's why many of us are having more skipped beats during holidays. Don't worry, it will go back to normal in a few days.

15-20 a day is really nothing, I just wanted to say that. Hehe. So I don't really feel sorry for you, though I do, because I know how it feels to be afraid of them. Yesterday, when seeing a movie, relaxed, I had skipped beats each time I inhaled for a minute or so. Felt like crap. But after moving a round a little, they went away.

Take care, and happy holidays. You'll be fine, I promise.

[Jerry_NJ]

As you know, thinking about it may make it worse.  

As far as I know the number of skips while an increase to you is in fact a small number, not hundreds or thousands per day.  I hate to bring that up but I know PVCs can be that numerous, skips I'm less sure of as to numbers in a 24 hour period.

My only suggestion beyond keeping your doctor(s) advised of any change, such as the current situation, is try to focus on other things, maybe Christmas can help you direct you mind away from your heart beats.  Look for acts of kindness you can offer to others, that will both focus your mind on productive activities and will also bring you satisfaction when done.

Merry Christmas, and a New Year wish that you indeed find a reduction in skips in 2013, not an increase.

[achillea]

Time to contact your doc or therapist tomorrow, Goth.  Sounds as though you need a little intervention via a talk session and more likely either an increase in your meds or a different med.

You're smart, and intellectually you understand that you're not in physical danger.  It's just that your panic has trampled your brain at the moment.