Can pvc's affect blood pressure readings?

[stormee]

Hello. I was wondering if anyone knows if you take your blood pressure while experiencing pvc's, will it make the reading higher, or will you get a false reading? I have white coat syndrome, and while taking my pressure, I was very stressed & having a lot of pvc's. The reading was high. I waited a while, and took it when they had subsided, and there was a 10 point difference. Has anyone experienced this or have knowledge about it. By the way, I have been having pvc's for 35 years, and they still scare the heck out of me. Thank you for any help.

[LordStanley]

absolutely pvcs and pacs can cause a false high systolic reading. The systolic is checking for the first heartbeat tha tis hard enough for the BP cuff to pick up. If you skip a beat, the next one is usually harder, and it detects it. This sounds normal on the surface, but think of it like this, the next 2 "normal" heartbeats are not detected yet. In other words, if not for the irregular hard heartbeat, you would have registered on the cuff at say 120, instead of 160.This is why so many with pacs and pvcs get ERRATIC and inconsistent high systolic numbers and sometimes low diastolic numbers.  One reading may say 150/70, then the next will be 120/80. It all depends on when that first hardbeat is detected.

[Makela998b]

I've been diagnosed with PVC's and have had the full gamut of tests, including treadmill and full ECG. My cardiologist discharged me with no further  requirement for treatment other than a yearly review.  BP readings are crazy as I also have some form of White Coat Syndrome, which I think affects the PVC occurrence. It's interesting to read here that PVC's can affect BP monitors. I have one of my own and it registers PVC's. I notice than when it doesn't read any such irregular beats then my BP is normal at around 130/75.When PVC's are detected the reading can got to 155/90 or higher. These readings can be within minutes of one another. In a hospital environment the WCS really kicks in and 220/90 is not unheard of. This causes all sorts of concerns amongst nursing staff and much in the way of explanation from me. It's surprising how little is known of PVC's and their effect on automated BP monitors amongst ward staff. I'm 68, non smoker, average weight and I take regular exercise. Hopefully this helps others who are stressed out with PVC's and whacky BP readings.

[fe41]

    Hi again. Sorry I misspelled your Nickname. I can't believe it but the factors that you mentioned which bring on your PVCs are exactly the same with me. I love drinking iced tea or cold juice, especially now that it is so hot here but then, I notice that after a cold drink my PVCs start acting up again. I can't find an explanation but well, maybe tea has caffeine but why the cold juice too? As advised by my doctor, I stopped drinking coffee, cola,chocolate and tea too but why are the PVCs still here? After a heavy meal, they come on again and when I bend down to tie my rubber shoes before exercise, I feel them again. Almost every morning,  I brisk walk for an hour and sometimes I feel a few. What I notice is that upon waking up in the morning, I hardly feel them at all and I wonder if it is because I have been well rested for hours during sleep. I really am puzzled by these PVCs and I try so hard to forget about them but when I feel a thump, then I am reminded once again of my condition, and I feel kinda sad again. I ask myself when will these PVCs go away.
    Stormee, are you taking medications for your heart or blood pressure? Are there supplements that you regularly take? As for me, I take Ramipril 5 mg for my BP, Carvedilol (half of a 25mg tablet) supposedly for the PVCs, plus Magnesium, Calcium and a multivitamin.
    It sure is nice to have someone to relate to, makes you feel somewhat "secured" knowing you are not alone and there are fellow "sufferers" out there.  I am so glad I decided to be a member of this community and thankful for having someone like you to "talk" to. Thanks Stormee and sorry for the queries. Take care!
    

[stormee]

Hi. Thanks for your response. It helped put my mind at ease. Just knowing that someone else experiences the same things makes us feel better. To answer your question on how often I get them and what brings them on...Some days I hardly get any at all. Other days I have them all day. The ones that freak me out are when they seem to be every other heartbeat or a string of them at once. These are the things I have noticed bring them on...Drinking a cold glass of water or iced tea, bending over, tight waistband, after a meal, sometimes after exercise, caffeine & especially chocolate. I think one of the main contributing factors is thinking about them all the time. I actually wonder if the weather has something to do with it too. Yes, they certainly can be bothersome. I guess it's just something we have to learn to live with, although that is very difficult at times. Thanks again for your reply. You take care too.

[fe41]

Hi! I am 55 years old and have been experiencing PVCs since December last year. At first it scared the hell out of me and I thought I wouldn't be around much longer. I have been assured by my doctor (after having a series of tests) that I was fine although I still get them and I am bothered by them. I always get my BP reading all the time using our digital BP monitor and there were times when I get a high reading especially when I have the missed hearbeat while getting my BP and seeing the heart icon for my pulse missing one beat. Otherwise, when I am relaxed, I get a normal reading. I really think being nervous or anxious really affect the BP reading and having the missed hearbeats while you are on the monitor raises the reading several notches higher.
   Stormy, you said you have been having PVCs for 35 years now. How often do you get them a day? From your experience, have you noticed what factors bring them on? I notice that there are days when they are frequent and days when I hardly feel them but they are there all the time and they really are bothersome. Take care

[stormee]

Concerning my question about pvc's and blood pressure. A pvc is a premature ventricular contraction. That kerplop or fluttering feeling many people feel in their chest.

[bobbiel]

I'm sorry but I don't know what pvc is? please explain.
thank you for your kind assistance.  bobbiel