Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Treatment of Frequent PVCs
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests
|
Treatment of Frequent PVCs
by elizz, Jul 13, 2002 12:00AM
I am healthy 48 year old female, with history of PVCs and occasional episodes of arrhythmias that are of two types. One feels like a speeding up of my heart rate,the other a rapid rate that includes a fluttering feeling that makes me feel lightheaded and stops me in my tracks. Episodes of rapid fluttering feeling are usually short in duration (about 30 sec to a minute), but the racing sensation happens at night, usually after I have had some wine (I drink only occasionally and in moderation.)and can last up to 30 minutes.The racing/fluttering sensation comes in cycles and is percipated, in part, by adrenaline surges, stress and caffeine. During a recent death in the family,when I got upset and started to cry my heart would flutter and race for at least a minute or so and it was distressing. During the funeral,I experienced constant, strong PVC's A recent holter monitor showed that I had close to 3,000 PVC's and some PACs. A stress echo showed a normal read before exercise and an abnormal read after exercise (but nothing abnormal on the EKG). Doctor ordered a heart cath. to rule out coronary artery disease, and the cath. was totally normal.My internist wants me to go on Toperol XL daily. My cardiologist disagrees and thinks I should use propranolol only ocassionaly, if I'm having a problem, since I don't have frequent episodes of arrhythmia. He has also given me an event monitor since my arrhythmias have never been recorded. What is your opinion of the advice I have been given? Can I continue to exercise and lift weights? Why is my heart so sensitive to adrenaline?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-RCJ, Jul 13, 2002 12:00AM
elizz,
Sorry to read of your symptoms. It is difficult for me to be sure, but it sounds like the rapid fluttering feeling is from PVCs. The other palpitations that you experience (the ones occuring after night, usually with wine) sound very suspicious for atrial fibrillation (afib). Many people develop afib after alcohol intake or at night.
The event monitor sounds like the perfect idea to sort these out. If the event monitor fails to capture the problem, you may want to look into the Reveal monitor made by medtronics (www.medtronics.com).
I think that either of the two medicine choices sounds fine. You need to pick which of the two doctors is going to manage the problem; it is unfair "to play mom against dad". Both of the medicines are beta-blockers, which are generally helpful in the treatment of both afib and PVCs. Uncommonly, some forms of both of these palpitations, however, can be exacerbated by beta-blockers.
If the exercise and weight lifting don't preciptate the palpitations, then I would continue -- provided your doctors haven't told you otherwise.
To answer why your heart is sensitive to adrenaline, we would first have to know that your heart really is indeed "sensitive to adrenaline". We don't know what your palpitations are yet as the event monitor has not yet been done.
I've included a reference below regarding prognosis and PVCs.
Hope that helps.
TI - Long-term follow-up of asymptomatic healthy subjects with frequent and complex ventricular ectopy.
AU - Kennedy HL; Whitlock JA; Sprague MK; Kennedy LJ; Buckingham TA; Goldberg RJ
SO - N Engl J Med 1985 Jan 24;312(4):193-7
Sorry to read of your symptoms. It is difficult for me to be sure, but it sounds like the rapid fluttering feeling is from PVCs. The other palpitations that you experience (the ones occuring after night, usually with wine) sound very suspicious for atrial fibrillation (afib). Many people develop afib after alcohol intake or at night.
The event monitor sounds like the perfect idea to sort these out. If the event monitor fails to capture the problem, you may want to look into the Reveal monitor made by medtronics (www.medtronics.com).
I think that either of the two medicine choices sounds fine. You need to pick which of the two doctors is going to manage the problem; it is unfair "to play mom against dad". Both of the medicines are beta-blockers, which are generally helpful in the treatment of both afib and PVCs. Uncommonly, some forms of both of these palpitations, however, can be exacerbated by beta-blockers.
If the exercise and weight lifting don't preciptate the palpitations, then I would continue -- provided your doctors haven't told you otherwise.
To answer why your heart is sensitive to adrenaline, we would first have to know that your heart really is indeed "sensitive to adrenaline". We don't know what your palpitations are yet as the event monitor has not yet been done.
I've included a reference below regarding prognosis and PVCs.
Hope that helps.
TI - Long-term follow-up of asymptomatic healthy subjects with frequent and complex ventricular ectopy.
AU - Kennedy HL; Whitlock JA; Sprague MK; Kennedy LJ; Buckingham TA; Goldberg RJ
SO - N Engl J Med 1985 Jan 24;312(4):193-7
Member Comments (1)
by zueger, Jul 05, 2008 06:52PM
A related discussion, Is there any end to this? was started.
Expert Activity
Related Expert Forums
Related Communities
Chest Pain
Crohns
Digestive Process
Dry Skin
Heart Attack
Stomach Ach
angina
atrium
blood
bowel
cardiologist
changes
colon
crohns disease
diarrhea
fatigue
high blood pressure
hypertension
irritable
irritable bowel
low blood pressure
medication
mitral
mvp
pains
pressure
redness
stomach ache
tachycardia
ulcerative
Communities
Ask a Doctor Forums
Tools and Applications
Personal Information
Medical Information
Doctors and Partners