AboutDavid Richardson Expertise Adult heart function and disease. Not very good about children lesss than 12. Hypertension is o.k. Heart rhythm a special interest.
Experience Certified in cardiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Was chairman of division of cardiology at the Medical College of Virginia. Am now mostly retired.
Organizations Fellow of American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology and member of American Physiological Society..
Publications Circulation, American Heart Journal, Hypertension.
Education/Credentials M.D. from Harvard Medical School. Residency training at Yale Uhniversity School of Medicine and Medical College of Virginia.
Awards and Honors Gold Heartt Award from American Heart Association in 1995.
Question First of all, thank you for this service.
I've read your comments many times about how PAC's, PVC's and skipped beats are of no harm provided you have a normal echo etc...
Well, I have been diagnosed with a bicuspid aorta (but no stenosis - and otherwise structurally normal) and for the last few days I have been noticing irregular heartbeats - which I assume are PVC's - with more frequency than normal. I'd say about 5 times an hour. The only symptoms I have from this is that it's making me tired and it will sometimes make me cough.
Can I also assume that the PVC's are a "normal part of a healthy heart" as you so often say? Or should I mention this to my cardiologist?
In the past four years I've worn a holter monitor, had an event monitor, had stress echo's, normal echos, and ekg's. Apart from the bi-cuspid aorta - noone has ever mentioned anything of any concern. I also take beta blockers and atenolol for high blood pressure - which yesterday was 125/85. I'm male and in my early 30's.
Thanks Doctor.
Answer Dear Mark,
Sure, mention it to your cardiologist. If your LVEF is over 50%, PVC's are no threat even with a bicuspid aortic valve. Just get an echo every 2.5 years to be sure the bicuspid valve doesn't get stenosed or leak.
Please write back any time you think I could help.
