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 Hi, I am new here and just in need of some advice.
I am a 31 year old female. I am 5'4, weigh 131 lbs.
I started getting PVC's about 1 year ago. They started out minor with just a few a day, which was fine, I could easily ignore those. Then a month after that, I had on a holter (march 08) 4,280 PVC's. 980 of those 4,280 occurred while I was sleeping!!
After the Holter, I was referred to a Cardiologist. She had me do a stress test (with an echo before and after) and I had 8 pvc's during the stress test, which my Cardiologist was not concerned about. She said my heart looked beautiful. Sure doesn't feel that way. She said they are Benign and there is going to be a time when they will go away and come back again.
Sooo, now for the past month STRAIGHT I have been getting LOTS more pvc's. Example:
Beat, pvc, beat, beat, pvc, beat, beat, beat, pvc, beat, beat pvc, pvc, pvc, beat, beat, pvc. And it's like this ALL DAY LONG!
I am really scared something might happen! My heart rate is usually in the mid 90's, which isn't a big deal to me. But the Pvc's worry me! Are these really benign, even when I am getting probably 10 times the amount I was getting before?
I had blood work done to rule out Thyroid disorders, anemia, and all the other stuff they look for.
I had an EKG, Echo, stress test in March 08.
I could probably exercise more, but I am really scared to. I am not overweight, but I know I could use regular exercise.
My question is this: Are these dangerous with this amount? By my calculations I am getting 30-40 skipped beats per minute all day! Some are 3-4 in a row with no extra beat in between.
I had another Dr on another forum tell me that pvc's are caused by the vagus nerve being constantly irritated.
I just do not want to drop dead from these. I have 3 children and a husband (ages 3, 4, 7) and I want to be around for a long time!
Please help me to understand these. I know Dr's say these are benign, but its so hard when I get these all day, everyday!! I really am scared.
I try to IGNORE, and ignore, but its hard.
Imagine someone sitting in a dark room. Turning the lights on and off 30-40 times per minute. Sure you would probably get use to it, but it sure is annoying and after awhile you would begin to question whether there is something wrong with the electrical wiring. Sorry, just trying to explain the way this feels.
I feel my PVC's, RIGHT SMACK in the heart area in the same place and get an adrenaline feeling with every one! I hate them, but I guess I can learn to live with them if I will be OK and not have a sudden death, cardiomyopathy, amongst other things.
Sorry this is long....
Thanks for your help!!
Steph
Answer Dear Steph,
PVC's, no matter how frequent, are normal cardiac activity and no threat to life or health. They do not in the future lead to heart disease, cardiomyopathy, sudden death or any catastrophe in someone with a normal echo. Since you're so alarmed by them, ask your doctor about flecainide, which is pretty effective in reducing PVC's and safe in someone with a normal echo. Do not accept amiodarone, effective but can cause severe lung trouble in some people. Beta blockers like metoprolol and atenolol are very safe, but not very effective. Some of flecainide's cousins are also safe and effective.
Please write back if this note doesn't answer all your questions. I'm very sorry you're having so much trouble.
