A Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC), also known as a premature ventricular complex, ventricular premature contraction (or complex or complexes) (VPC), ventricular premature beat (VPB), or extrasystole, is a relatively common event where the heartbeat is initiated by the heart ventricles rather than by the sinoatrial node, the normal heartbeat initiator. The electrical events of the heart detected by the electrocardiogram allow a PVC to be easily distinguished from a normal heart beat.
A PVC may be perceived as a "skipped beat" or felt as palpitations in the chest. In a normal heartbeat, the ventricles contract after the atria have helped to fill them by contracting; in this way the ventricles can pump a maximized amount of blood both to the body and to the lungs. In a PVC, the ventricles contract first, which means that circulation is inefficient. However, single beat PVC arrhythmias do not usually pose a danger and can be asymptomatic in healthy individuals[1].
Pvcs. Help
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SimpleTruths
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:36 pm
Hello,
I too have suffered from PVC's. I also went through a battery of tests ( Mutiple EKG's, echo, echo/tress combination, 30 and 24 day monitors and even a CT angiogram of the heart). Everything was fine even though the PVC's continued to pester me. I say pester because that is exactly what they do. Pester the doo doo out of you!
I was back and forth the ER and to the Cardiologist also, fearing it was a serious heart issue. I work for a hospital and each time I presented to the ER, they tried to assure me these epoisodes were normal.
So, I can relate to what you are going through believe me!!!
The PVC's I was having were bundeling ( bunches of 3 and 4) and lasting for days a time.
I can tell you what causes them and what I have done to almost completly rid myself of them entirely.
1. Stess will make them worse. If you are going through a stressful period, don't be surprised if they appear out of the blue, some times days later or even weeks later. So try and "destress". I know it's hard but try to focus on something positive. Listen to the relaxation tape and focus on the positives.
2. Keep in mind and say to your self they are not harmful. Once you recognize that they are harmless, you will see they will go away.
3. Stay away from cafeine, chocolate, sugar substitute( such as equal, splenda etc.. )
Beware of certian soft drinks that look misleading. Some orange and lemon lime sodas contain cafeine. READ THE LABLE amnd be sure it says cafeine free!
4. Stay hydrated!!! Drink lots of water. Often times when you are dehydrated you will have PVC's.
5. Stay away from refined sugars and white breads. Aim for more whole wheat etc... Eat lots of fresh fruit and veggies.
6. Lastly, speak to your doctor about beta blockers. Beta blockers work by helping the heart to slow, so you do not have that skipping/ flip flopping or pausing you feel. I am on Metropolol 25 mg twice a day. IT IS A MIRACLE MEDICINE!!!! My PVC's have deminished to nearly none since I have been taking the beta blocker and changed my diet. Ask your doctor to start you out slow on the medicine, like I did. I was taking a 1/2 of a 25mg in the AM and the other 1/2 in the PM. He gradually increased my medicine to a full 25 in the am and a full 25 in the pm until the PVC's went away.
Most important, DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE THE MEDICINE! It will help.
Good luck and may God bless you and keep you,
Kim
I too have suffered from PVC's. I also went through a battery of tests ( Mutiple EKG's, echo, echo/tress combination, 30 and 24 day monitors and even a CT angiogram of the heart). Everything was fine even though the PVC's continued to pester me. I say pester because that is exactly what they do. Pester the doo doo out of you!
I was back and forth the ER and to the Cardiologist also, fearing it was a serious heart issue. I work for a hospital and each time I presented to the ER, they tried to assure me these epoisodes were normal.
So, I can relate to what you are going through believe me!!!
The PVC's I was having were bundeling ( bunches of 3 and 4) and lasting for days a time.
I can tell you what causes them and what I have done to almost completly rid myself of them entirely.
1. Stess will make them worse. If you are going through a stressful period, don't be surprised if they appear out of the blue, some times days later or even weeks later. So try and "destress". I know it's hard but try to focus on something positive. Listen to the relaxation tape and focus on the positives.
2. Keep in mind and say to your self they are not harmful. Once you recognize that they are harmless, you will see they will go away.
3. Stay away from cafeine, chocolate, sugar substitute( such as equal, splenda etc.. )
Beware of certian soft drinks that look misleading. Some orange and lemon lime sodas contain cafeine. READ THE LABLE amnd be sure it says cafeine free!
4. Stay hydrated!!! Drink lots of water. Often times when you are dehydrated you will have PVC's.
5. Stay away from refined sugars and white breads. Aim for more whole wheat etc... Eat lots of fresh fruit and veggies.
6. Lastly, speak to your doctor about beta blockers. Beta blockers work by helping the heart to slow, so you do not have that skipping/ flip flopping or pausing you feel. I am on Metropolol 25 mg twice a day. IT IS A MIRACLE MEDICINE!!!! My PVC's have deminished to nearly none since I have been taking the beta blocker and changed my diet. Ask your doctor to start you out slow on the medicine, like I did. I was taking a 1/2 of a 25mg in the AM and the other 1/2 in the PM. He gradually increased my medicine to a full 25 in the am and a full 25 in the pm until the PVC's went away.
Most important, DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE THE MEDICINE! It will help.
Good luck and may God bless you and keep you,
Kim
Kim....thank you for your kind words and sharing your experience. I have been finding out many of the things you said to be true for me. I am currently wearing a monitor for thirty day...ehh more money to be sent is always fun. My doctor wanted this done. Mine will go away for sometimes over a month then come back. Ive been troubleshooting many things and think I may have an electrolyte issue that I'm experimenting with now...will keep everyone updated. I've been drinking power aid and coconut water o.n.e. And have not had any since I started doing this daily as I do heavy card daily.
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SimpleTruths
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:36 pm
Hello! Just wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing with those pvcs! They seemed to have flared back up with me. 
Hate them, hate them, hate them! Good thing is I've had to push through and do things even when I was having them even every other beat. It is hard sometimes to do things though. Didn't have good sleep last night as my son is fighting a virus and was up late coughing and through the night too. So I was up alot and this morning the pvcs are stopping in to say hello. Does anyone have any little bits of advice on how they deal with them? I've tried different things with different success and failure results. Thanks!
Hate them, hate them, hate them! Good thing is I've had to push through and do things even when I was having them even every other beat. It is hard sometimes to do things though. Didn't have good sleep last night as my son is fighting a virus and was up late coughing and through the night too. So I was up alot and this morning the pvcs are stopping in to say hello. Does anyone have any little bits of advice on how they deal with them? I've tried different things with different success and failure results. Thanks!Suggestion: As you breathe slowly and deeply, say to yourself, "Man's way leads to a hopeless end--God's way leads to an endless hope." Or "A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing." "He who kneels before God can stand before anyone." Here's a good one: "IN the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma--but never let him be the period." "Don't put a question mark where God puts a period." Trust Him and only Him! We cannot trust our panicky feelings as they are based on falsehoods, not reality.
Hey, I haven't logged on to this for a couple weeks but Im glad i saw your post. I had a difficult time with pvc 25 years ago. This is the first I have heard the term pvc. They didn't have it back then. I went to all kinds of tests. If you have gone through tests and found that your heart is healthy I will give you my answer to it. It is caused by stress and anxiety. Actually your body is acting exactly as it should. Because I think we sometimes get preoccupied with a certain thought and start letting it build and build and your brain starts sending message to your heart for panic or ? . This is how I stop them and it works EVERY time. Believe it or not, just when it starts happening just hold your breath for about 5 seconds. It will go away. That is how it works for me. Go outside get a change of scenery. I am not a doctor,I don't have any medical training. This is just how it works for me.
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SimpleTruths
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:36 pm
Hi Kathie C. and Dave1,
Thank you both for your suggestions.
Kathie, I really like your suggestions. Replacing my fearful thinking with those positive statements should help me alot!
Dave1, So glad to hear you are doing better and I thank you for your suggestions too. I know sometimes if I go for a drive just to get out of the house, it will help me. Do you still have them or are they gone completely??
It's amazing how our minds work as I notice if I get busy surfing the internet, they will often stop.
Thanks again to both of you. Have a great day!!
Thank you both for your suggestions.
Kathie, I really like your suggestions. Replacing my fearful thinking with those positive statements should help me alot!
Dave1, So glad to hear you are doing better and I thank you for your suggestions too. I know sometimes if I go for a drive just to get out of the house, it will help me. Do you still have them or are they gone completely??
It's amazing how our minds work as I notice if I get busy surfing the internet, they will often stop.
Thanks again to both of you. Have a great day!!
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2manybirds
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:10 pm
What does everyone mean by their heart "flip flops"? I have tons of these PVC's and they really bother me. I have now started getting short runs of rapid heartbeats after some of them. Does anyone have these? I have had all the tests multiple times and always have been told I am fine. It is very hard to believe when my heartbeat feels so irregular!
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SimpleTruths
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:36 pm
Hello 2manybirds,
Sounds like pvcs to me! Is that what they diagnosed you with? I often go to medhelp as they have alot of posts on their for people who experience these and it helps to read of others who go through the same thing.
I know it is hard to believe everything is ok when your heart is beating irregular! But I have been to 5, yes 5, different cardiologist, some the best in my area, and ALL have said I have benign pvcs. I can't take a beta blocker as my blood pressure runs low and I am sensitive to meds anyway. So, I either learn to ignore them or get a surgical procedure done that may or may not make them better. Well, I HATE surgeries, especially if it is not necessary so I am taking one day at a time, praying my way through and trusting God and my doctors. With having anxiety, it is so easy to think the worse, which I have done more times than I can count. But I am learning. Hope that helps answer your question.
Sounds like pvcs to me! Is that what they diagnosed you with? I often go to medhelp as they have alot of posts on their for people who experience these and it helps to read of others who go through the same thing.
I know it is hard to believe everything is ok when your heart is beating irregular! But I have been to 5, yes 5, different cardiologist, some the best in my area, and ALL have said I have benign pvcs. I can't take a beta blocker as my blood pressure runs low and I am sensitive to meds anyway. So, I either learn to ignore them or get a surgical procedure done that may or may not make them better. Well, I HATE surgeries, especially if it is not necessary so I am taking one day at a time, praying my way through and trusting God and my doctors. With having anxiety, it is so easy to think the worse, which I have done more times than I can count. But I am learning. Hope that helps answer your question.