PVCs Help please.

[Jake_Berreth]

Hello,
I'm an 18 year old male who smokes about a 1/2 pack a day and drinks on occasion. I've had severe anxiety for about 6 months now (health anxiety, hypochondria). I go to a clinic for behavioral therapy, and it seems to be helping.
Recently my doctor performed and EKG and found I have PVC's in a pattern of bigemini. I wore a Holter Monitor for 24 hours, and just today my doctor called me back saying there are "Significant abnormalities with my heart beat" and is going to recommend me to a cardiologist.

I'm wondering if these abnormalities could be due to my severe anxiety or is it something more sinister afoot.
Here are some symptoms I do, and don't have:
1. I suffer mild dizzy spells now and then, but i have never once fainted.
2. I exercise regularly and never feel more fatigue than usual, although I do have more PVC's after a set of weight training, cardio, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be a problem. Strange.
3. 90% of the time I feel palpitations is when i'm anxious.
4. I can breathe just fine (no shortness of breath, even when lying flat)
5. My weight is stable, i've put on a few pounds but i believe it's from weight-training.
6. I feel tingling in my hands/arms/feet from time to time.
7** I occasionally have slight discomfort in my chest. No pain associated, but it feels like someone is pushing on the bottom of my breastplate, or up under my ribs. This is scary seeing as these are symptoms of a heart attack. But i've always been just fine, checked my pulse and it's where it's supposed to be (around 75 bpm)

If someone in the same situation or someone with a medical background could please give some advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

[da75]

drop by your doctors office and ask the front desk person for a copy of your holter monitor report (it'll be free).  The reports are very detailed and will help shed some light on this for you. There is usually a section called "Conclusions" near the bottom with a number of items. If you get this report, read it for yourself, and post those conclusions it would be easier to give you some advice.

[Barbmag]

Jake,, sounds like you are on track and good luck w/your attempt to stop smoking. I think too that you will feel much better after you see a cardiologist and he determines what may be causing the PVC's. I know for me, I hate not having answers! Just keep up the good work and try to 'honor your body'!!! That's what Dr. Phil says to do!!!! :)  

The reason that I quit was during the first autopsy that I was observing, the person had died of lung cancer, a smoker and you should have seen the lungs!!! It was so ugly and disgusting so I quit right then and never looked back!!! I do not even use chemicals for cleaning or anything in our home. I am a nut when it comes to that!!

Stay well!

[Jake_Berreth]

Thanks so much for your concern. I'm really trying to quit smoking, but I'm sure you know, it's a little harder than it seems. I'm trying some sort of eastern medicine thing where you open up your "meridians". I'm starting that next week with my aunt, she said it really helps her so I figured i'd give it a go.
I've about weight lifting and PVC's too, but after a set, I'll get "runs" of them. I try not to let it concern me because if I get anxious about it I know it just gets worse.

Again, thank you so much for your response. It really helps to just have someone to relate to. I'll definitely keep you posted =)

-Jake

[Barbmag]

I think there are two things that I can recommend that you do and you know what the first one is going to be..stop smoking! You are young and have your whole life ahead of you and smoking can only cause many, many health issues down the road. I care about you and hate to see someone make that choice!! The other thing is to most definitely see a cardiologist so that you will know exactly what is going on. I bet nothing is wrong w/your heart but now is the time to have it ck'ed out so you can live your life w/o worrying what may or may not be wrong. It sounds like you are on the right track as far as exercising, etc. so go one step further and don't go near cigs! I smoked in college and when I quit, I never looked back.

I have a son who is a personal trainer and he says that sometimes people do experience PVC's when they life weights and I don't know why that is but maybe your cardio could enlighten you after doing a workup on you.

Good luck and let us know what happens!! I hope someone has more info for you but I just wanted to give you my .2!! :)