Where do PVCs come from?

[Melissab122]

A week before my 40th birthday and I had my first PVC “attack”. Not to say I never had a skilled heartbeat prior to this day, but never like this. I’ve read a lot of stories and responses on this site but I don’t seem to find anyone who can explain why they started. I’m no longer so worried about the harmful effects of having them but more so what happened to me to cause them to start in the first place. Should I be worried that my heart just decided to start skipping several beats to where I’m aware of it more often than not? Is there anyone out there that is actually received a response as to why they start?

[S11m]

I have had PVC’s and long periods between beats… and I thought they were not the same.

I had no symptoms with either (apart from my late wife telling me she had been lying in bed anxiously waiting for my next heartbeat)!

I have had a pacemaker for eight years.

[Melissab122 in reply to S11m]

Thank you for the reply. Did anyone ever explain why they started in the first place?

[S11m in reply to Melissab122]

No.

[Hidden]

I think everybody wants the answer to that question. Looking back, I think I probably had PVCs for a couple of years before I even realized I had them. I can remember particularly stressful times at work where I could feel my heart jumping around, worrying that something was going wrong with my heart and hoping it wasn't because I just had too much work to get done that day. Crazy I know. It wasn't until one day when I actually found my pulse in my wrist and I could feel the Mistmissed beats. That was probably at least three years ago now. It was a constant worry to begin with, I went to the ER probably three or four times within a year, only to be sent home without telling me that they were benign and there is nothing to really worry about. Then, one night they were particularly bad, and I was getting them every second and sometimes every other beat of for hours. I was lying in bed, and I looked at my Fitbit and I was shocked to see that my heart rate was at 140 beats a minute. I thought that must be a mistake, I felt my pulse and instead of feeling the normal missed beats that you get with PVCs, I felt a very erratic heartbeat that would go very fast for maybe 10 or 15 beets and then slow right down and then start up again and it was just chaotic and all over the place. That trip to the ER, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. I'm pretty sure that the hours and hours of my PVCs going off every other beat contributed to that initial A-fib episode. A-fib made PVCs look like a walk in the park. It took months to get to a point where I started to feel normal and things were stabilizing. And it was through a bunch of online support groups for afib, that I realized that both afib and PVCs are likely caused by the same thing, which in many people is anxiety and stress, and in others, which turned out to be me, I finally discovered after numerous months that it appeared that I had an electrolyte imbalance, despite the fact that my Hospital blood tests for electrolyte showed everything was normal. I discovered that by taking a big glass of low-sodium V8 juice whenever I started to feel PVCs coming on, that I could stop them from getting out of control, and going on for hours or days, if I drink a big glass of low-sodium V8 juice before they started to really get going. Low-sodium V8 juice has a lot of potassium in it, and potassium helps cancel out sodium in your body. Many other people take magnesium taurate in supplement form and swear by it as well. I have found, that for me, most of the time, I can almost live PVC free as long as I can keep those magnesium, potassium, and sodium levels at the proper level for my body. It's a tricky thing to do, but you get better with it over time, and I can go for weeks or months without any symptoms now, but when they do happen, I can usually get them under control within a couple of days. But you go back to your original question about what actually started PVCs, I'm really not too sure. What I think caused my A-fib which in turn I think was triggered by PVCs that were occurring every other beat for hours, may have been caused, for me, by some significant over supplementation of various vitamins and other supplements. I had started taking large doses of the wrong type of magnesium a few days prior, and I somewhat feel that that perhaps triggered the PVCs to get worse which in turn triggered the A-fib. I can't say for sure, but I do know that I wound up in the hospital two times, perhaps three after taking probably too much magnesium. And that was when I had PVCs and not A-fib. I was also taking large doses of Vitamin D, K2, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin C, several different versions of vitamin B, and several others which may have caused some problems that built up over a period of time, I'm really not sure. I also think other contributing factors for me probably had to do with my weight, my not very good control of my blood sugar, and working shift work that switched me from days to nights on a regular basis. I found it once I got my blood sugar under control, especially when I got at least six to eight hours of sleep every night, and what I lost just 10% of my total body weight, I noticed a tremendous decrease in PVCs regardless if I was taking any supplements or not. So I'm not sure any of this answers your question about what started my PVCs, I simply have some suspicions, but I can't prove that any individual thing cause them, just that like you and everyone else who gets them, they just started one day, and with me, I think I may have had them for several years but was always so busy and so tired I never really noticed them that much until I started to slow down. But if you haven't tried it, give low-sodium V8 a shot. You can get a great big jug for about 3 bucks, you need to shake it up really good, and a big glass like about 10 or 12 oz when you start to feel your PVC is coming on next time, I just see if it helps you or not. It may do nothing for you, but it may also be the answer for you. Good luck.

[Melissab122 in reply to Hidden]

I think you have a nail on the head with your vitamin and mineral deficiency. I’ve read in so many places now that I’ve been researching, how magnesium can play a vital role in our body functions including heart palpitations and nervous system. I started supplementing with magnesium, vitamin D3, and potassium. I’ve only been doing this for about a week with the magnesium but have noticed a difference in how I feel, sleep, and the lack of PVCs that I’m having currently. Thank you so much for the response and all the great information. Should they start to get out of control I will definitely try the low-sodium V-8 that you suggested.

[Hidden]

Hi Mel, PVC's aren't actually a skipped beat, even though they feel ike it. Its an extra beat possibly triggered from somewhere else in the heart. I've had them for 45 years since 17 years old.

The frightening thump that we all think is the heart stopping and starting is the Premature Ventricular Contraction, or Ventricular Ectopic Beat. Instead of your heart beating 1.......2.......3 we get 1..2..............3. The "2" is the ectopic beat which could come from your natural pacemaker but might also come from somewhere else in your heart. It's just earlier than it should be. When premature beat 2 comes, the heart hasn't yet filled with blood after number one has pumped its load out, so we don't actually feel beat number 2. But then the heart fills up with extra blood in the gap between 2 and 3 and gives a powerful beat to pump the extra blood out. That's the thump we all feel. And the gap is when we all think our hearts have stopped. I have had this for 45 years and I'm still alive. I had 23,000 one day. I'm not going to die of this and nor are you. Next time you are having a bad time take a dose of antacid (I use Gaviscon) and sit upright for a while. It works wonders for me. Recently I started on a non-addictive anti-depressant Escitlopram and Magnesium citrate and I am feeling better than I have in decades. When we get these things we get anxiety which causes depression whick causes more anxiety, so I am trying to break that cycle. Cliff in Australia.

[Kardy in reply to Hidden]

Hi Cliff

How does Gaviscon help?

[Hidden in reply to Kardy]

I have always been aware that there is a relationship to food and the severity of the symptoms. Stimulation of the Vagus nerve can cause our problems. When mine were really bad a dose of Gaviscon always reduced the effects over a few hours.

[Kardy in reply to Hidden]

Thanks

[Hidden in reply to Kardy]

I have started on Non-addictjve anti-depressant and magnesium citrate 400 mg and feel better than I have in decades.

[Kardy in reply to Hidden]

I have been reading a lot about magnesium. I think I will try it

[Melissab122 in reply to Kardy]

I’ve also started on the magnesium citrate and have been taking for almost a week now with only one attack during that time. I feel better, sleep better and think it’s truly making a difference. I also take potassium and vitamin d3 on a regular basis. Someone else mentioned sodium levels can play a part. I will also find relief of PVCs after eating, when I take a Pepcid as soon as I feel them coming on. I truly believe these are caused by a deficiency in vitamins and minerals in your body. Magnesium specifically plays a part in over 300 essential body functions (see my other post with a link to a study done on the side effects of low magnesium in the body).

I would highly recommend adding in the magnesium, along with any other vitamin/mineral you think you may be deficient in and see how that affects the PVCs you are having. Like Cliff said, it’s not an immediate fix but I think you’ll start to notice a difference in a week or so and definitely moving forward from there!

[Kardy in reply to Melissab122]

I definitely will 👍🏻

[Contra21 in reply to Hidden]

Im from Australia too what type of magnesium do u have ectopic too

[Hidden in reply to Contra21]

I take Magnesium Citrate 400mg a day and when I get a bad run I have a dose of Gaviscon. That works every time but takes a short while to start working.

[Thompson123]

Hi cliff ,

Iv just read your message, it’s quite reassuring to know I’m not alone .

I just wondered with you pvcs do you have runs when they come every other beat ?

I have ablation December for SVT and AT and since then I have lots of PVCs especially at rest . The consultant has said I have atrial Bigeminy which means normal beat then skipped beat . Driving me mad .

Many thanks Michelle

[Hidden in reply to Thompson123]

Hi Michelle, as mentioned I had 23,000 of then one day. I went to some quack doctor who felt my pulse and said "Oooh your heart rate is very slow". I said "Of course it is - it's missing every second beat!". Not overlay blessed with brains.

Well, we know its not actually missing a beat, it just feels like it. Have a dose of Gaviscon and stay upright for an hour and see if it helps.

Regards Cliff

[Thompson123 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks cliff I’ll definitely give that a try .

All the best