How many pvc's are normal?

[finetilthree]

I have heard that EVERYONE has pvc's and pac's.  Is this true?  I have at least 10 every day.  Is it dangerous to have that many?  Do I have more risk of it turning into an arrhythmia that my heart won't get out of?  How can I tell if I am having a pvc or a pac?  My holter showed 13 pac's and 2 pvc's but I always feel the pause and then a hard thump.  Why do they happen more when I run up the stairs or bend over too quickly or am carrying a heavy load?
Worried sick.

[eugpenn]

It's Great that you two met on here, you can start your own support group, even if it's online.  ;-)    I have the pvc's too, but still going through tests.  hang in there guys, try to not be obsessed by it!

[jennsav9506]

I feel the exact same way you do....TERRIFIED....How are you doing now???

[marie222887]

I have a daughter in law who is age 54...three yrs ago heart went out of
rhythm bad. In hospital found out three reasons for it....high blood pressure,
asthma and sleep apnea. She was very heavy weight about 250 lbs and the paddles did not work thro the fat. Could not get her heart back into normal rhythm. Gave her pills and she's fine now. She said her heart is STILL out of rhythm, but becuz of the drugs does not feel it. She works a regular job,
has a few beers every nite, and doesn't worry. At least SHE can't FEEL them
even tho her heart is still irregular. She had A fib they said. Is under control with 3 meds. Does not feel out of rhythm beats anymore even tho she still gets them.

[Gigglegigglz]

I definitely feel the same way. It's crazy what you miss out on when all you do is spend time worrying.  And every time I have an "extra" heartbeat, I'm convinced it's going to be the last.  Even with a cardiologist, several ER/Urgent Care visits and many many tests later ALL saying i have NOTHING to worry about, I'm never satisfied.  I just got my 48 hour holter monitor results back yesterday (10/23/13), and there were 5 pvc's and 1 pac.  Cardiologist told me that based on the holter monitor, stress test and echo, my heart is perfectly fine and I don't need to come back.  Doesn't make it any easier to accept though =(

[terri267]

Thank you for this news.  It's good to know a few things to try.
I had reduced caffeine and alcohol but neither seemed to make much difference.
I added electrolytes with trace minerals and that didn't help either.

Will try "cutting the cheese" :-0 and adding bananas.  After 3 months of hellish pvc's, they are finally abating.  Still awaiting word on an echocardiogram, but yes, it is totally crazymaking to have doctors call these normal - yet I had never heard of them before I got them!

[KentishA]

Ive been reading the posts on here as Im having a morning of it....you know the one where you just feel helpless, alone and just want to shut the world out. So, first thing is to come on these forums and read what others are going through.  It helps...alot.  Few other things that help me....  find a local heart support group (Im in uk) Mostly all regions have one, ask your local hospital or doctors surgery.  Next one is the same as Justin FLD...Bananas! Yup, those long yellow fruits make a huge difference to the amount of PVC's PACS etc that I get. Also, if I start getting a bad run I drink something fizzy preferably spring water and preferably cold. The fizz helps alot and most likely that the hydration helps.  On that note make sure you keep hydrated with water.  Not drinking water means I get more PVC's.  No caffeine and drink some camomile tea.  If they are bothersome at night, try going off to sleep sitting up a bit more and avoid CHEESE.  Cant remember why but when I stopped eating so much of it it did make a difference and apparently (so my cardio says) is a trigger for alot of people for eptopics and svt. Sleep, I know its an obvious one but does make a difference, o and sleep on your right hand side not your heart side. You're less likely to hear/feel the retched things through your ears in the pillow! I take flecanide as a pill in the pocket solution so I take 50/100mg when I need to.  Seems to help but they make me really hungry for some reason!

Hormones if you're a girl then expect to get more around your time of the month. I have found that if iron levels drop during this time it make it worse.  I cant stomach the iron tablets, so I eat a few dried apricots every day.

Ive said for years that the association with PVC's and the vagnus nerve is one that shouldnt be ignored.  The medical profession still dont seem to have grasped this concept in any big way but lots of PVC suffers support the theory. I am one of them! Always get some extra beats before a bowel movement (often my heart lets me know before my bowel which is handy!) and if Im hungry with an empty stomach of if I eat to quickly, too much.

Hope this post helps you reading it. I would say you will have the odd bad day when it all gets a bit much and you cant cope with the anxiety of wondering if you will wake up in the morning or your child will find you keeled over somewhere.  Its terrifying I know so accept that bad day and cherish the many more good ones that always follow xxx