What causes PVC's?

[April2]

So, what exactly causes PVC's, does anybody know? I know they say they're usually harmless but obviously not all people have them so why do some have them and not others? Is it some sort of defect in the heart? Just wondering. I got to thinking about it and wasn't sure I've ever heard what exactly causes these things. Just curious if anybody knows.

[SassyLassie]

I have PAC's too, in fact, whenever I wear the monitor, it is always just PAC's not the PVC's. The difference is the PVC's originate in the ventricles the lower chambers, and the PAC's originate in the upper part of the heart known as the atrium. Most doctors prefer the PAC's to PVC's as they say they are not dangerous, but, in a healthy heart, neither are the PVC's, if the heart is damaged, however, the PVC's can sometimes go into a more dangerous arrythmia which could turn life threatening, but, as, I said, in a structually, healthy heart, they do not worry much about that happening.

[April2]

What about PAC's? Are they pretty much the same? I have mostly PVC's with some PAC's. I still don't know if I understand all this stuff!

[SassyLassie]

PVC's are sort of a mystery in the "World of Cardiology" There are many assumptions, but no one really knows for sure. I have read that amost anything can "fire" them off, from emtions, to digestion problems, to plain nothing. They can also be caused by a defective heart after an MI, really, it is an area that I think most cardiologists are symied by and they are just so used to seeing folks like us that have them, they take it lightly, they may not even mean to, they just do. Here is a link to a post that someone posted a while back, I wish it were a sticky, it is interesting to get others views on these things. Here it is: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Heart-Rhythm/Tell-Me-About-Your-PVCs/show/389334  Some of you may have seen this already, but, I sometimes like to go back and re-read it.

[Mom2four85]

I just came from my 2nd opinion from an EP at our local univeristy.

I asked WHAT is causing this? She said they couldn't pinpoint what caused it, but it's the electrical part of my heart mis-firiing for whatever reason.  She also said until they do the EP study and go inside she can't answer it and even then it may not give any answers :(

[Bon-Bon]

I wished I knew the answer to that question.  There seems to be triggers for some; but, they can be different for everyone and some have the same sort of triggers and some don't.  And sometimes, they seem to come having no particular ryhme or reason.  

I'm thinking that the "trigger/s" may not be the actual "cause" of the problem though.  I think it's deeper than that.  I'm only speaking from my thoughts cause I sure don't know the answer/s.  I'm searching like everyone else.

I've gone so far as to ponder if there may be or is a correlation between epilepsy / seizures and heart arrythmias / PVCs, etc.  I personally have not heard any discussion regarding it.  I don't know if there is one; but, I would certainly be most interested in being pointed to that subject and hearing the views if so.  I've been seriously considering posting my thought in the forum recently in order to hear what others opinions may be on that.

It stands to reason, all the talk about "electrical" issiues in the brain mis-firing regarding epilepsy / seizures, then I wonder, "Could the same thing possibly be happening within the heart?  Many things can be "possible"; but, are they "probable"?  I don't know.  Could it be the brain may be mis-firing signals during some sort of seizure activity and the heart is therefore reacting to that, much like muscles, other nerves within the body, etc. can?  If not, then why wouldn't it?".  

I don't know; but, I do wonder if there is a connection / correlation between the two.  I would find it hard to believe our hearts are not connected to our brain in some way  :  )

...still picking my brain for answers.

Blessings and Pleasant thoughts.  

[Mom2four85]

I would love to find that answer also, along with why are mine the type that have gotten so dangerous and run 24/7.

What happened that I've ignored to make them go from harmless normal on an EKG in 2007 my doctor just dismissed to now thickening of my left ventrical and needing surgery.

From what I've read the past few weeks, there is very little research in humans for pvc's.  I wonder why?