How to eliminate or reduce Heart Palpitation

[Dick501]

I'm so happy to find this site. Last night, I called 911 because of palpitation and it's been an ongoing problem for me for about 8 yrs. I tend to get nervous when it hits while being alone specially when  my wife is out working nightshift. It usually occur at night when I get up suddenly to go to the bathroom to urinate or just waking up in the middle of the night. My feet and hands gets cold and I always quick to grab the telephone and get ready to call for help. I probably called 911 six times here our little community in Alaska. The symptom goes away in 5 to 15 minutes. Like for so many people, I've gone through all the test (EKG, echocardiogram, blood, X-Ray, Stress test) and all was NORMAL. I am an athletic type person and own a BOWFLEX machine and have a manual treadmill. Always workout regularly but recently I stop jogging outdoor and reduce my cardiovascular exercise into one half my usual routine  hoping to minimize the occurence of PVC. I am not sure if this is the right decision.

[BlendedPlanet]

Mag 400 mg morning and night
Niacin 500 mg morning and night

After my reams of research I don't remember what the purpose of the niacin was.

I should mention that last night I didn't sleep as well and palps were more noticable, but I have been testing my limitations to see how things change and yesterday I did have two drinks and 2 cups of coffee throughout the day. It seems 1 of each per day is fine, but 2 is too much.

[hzasrf]

what mag and niacin dosages are you using?

[BlendedPlanet]

I had an afib episode about a year ago. I had an echochardiogram, tons of EKGs and a nuclear stress test, all of which indicated no underlying heart issues. I'm 45, a regular runner, weightlifter and biker, healthy as a horse.

Recently I got an allergy that  gave me a tenacious cough for several weeks. At one point the virus triggered about 3 days of afib, no big deal. Immediately following was allergy season and I was more sensitive than usual following the virus. I used an inhaler a few times to clear some haziness (albuterol). During the same 6 week period I had a very stressful work situation. Plenty of coffee.

Coffee + stress + albuterol + virus = ALL well documented arrythmia triggers. Over a weeks time I developed an increasingly distracting arrythmia I assumed was another afib, but it seemed different. I measured my heartbeat patterns carefully (the old fashioned way) using a sensitive microphone and examining the wave file on a computer. The pattern did not match afib. After considerable research I determined my arrythmia pattern and symptoms matched what others describe as PVCs.

I did not seek medical assistance. My afib hospital experience is documented here:
http://www.blendedplanet.com/?Planet_Blog:My_Atrial_Fibrillation_Adventure
You will understand why I approach conventional medicine (both from the standpoint of efficacy and expense) with a jaundiced eye.

I was led to George Eby's paper on this (search "PVC Taurine Eby" on google) and decided to give his recommended protocol a try. Over about a week of gradually increasing doses I wound up here :

    * Morning - 1 magnesium, 1 fish oil, 1 niacin, 2 Taurine, 2 L-Arginine
    * Mid-Morning - 1 Taurine + 1 fish oil
    * Lunch - 1 fish oil, 2 Taurine, 2 L-Arginine
    * Mid-Afternoon - 1 Taurine + 1 fish oil
    * Dinner - 1 fish oil, 2 Taurine, 2 L-Arginine
    * Bed - 1 magnesium, 1 fish oil, 1 niacin, 2 Taurine, 2 L-Arginine

The Taurine is 1000mg per, the L-Arginine is 500mg per (gelatin capsules as recommended.)

Result - no constipation issues and all is very calm. The skips still exist, but they are less frequent and probably more important, most PVC sufferers would be satisfied if the phenomenon were so 'light' that they couldn't feel it. The sensation and accompanying distraction and stress seems to be what bothers most people if they can intellectually accept that PVCs pose no real danger.

In may case that's a satisfactory result as well, and it's been achieved with the regimen above, with slow improvement over a week as I gradually increased the daily intake of Taurine and L-Arginine. Basically, I can no longer feel any flops in my chest, but if I take my pulse, skips are still there several times per minute. Half an hour after dosage there are only a few per minute. Three hours after there might be many more, even though I have to be very still to feel them.

Over the past 24 hours I have noticed that the supplementation effects seems to last longer and longer. For example I experienced >100 non-skipped beats first thing in the morning, 8 hours after my last dose. I attribute this to increasing blood or tissue levels of Taurine, EPA and DHA.

[riverwide]

How often do you get them and what is the frequency?  In other words, do you get them twice a day, like every 10 beats?

[Skycam]

To set all of your minds at ease, I have been having arrythmias like  Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia and PVC's for over 40 years. My grandmother used to have what she called her spells. and had them as well and lived to almost 90. Her heart was  very strong.
I have kept the racing  and extra beats at bay all this time  by using a whole food form of calcium and magnesium... Finding the correct amounts that your body needs is key. Our  recommended daily allowances on bottles are just to prevent disease and many of us with such fun genetics like mitral valve prolapse and disautonomia need far more to keep our hearts in rhythm.
Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals in the body and in balance with calcium will help the heart contract and pump as it should. Often those of us with arrythmias are lacking in that nutrient and even if test results seem normal they may not be NORMAL for our bodies.
I use so much more than most people and as soon as I feel that uncomfortable extra beat which can come strong every few beats or so... I take a calcium and magnesium whole food form tablet of the minerals  and boy it is such a miracle because sweet relief is close at hand.
I wish you well in your journey to find your own healing... Your solutions is nearby and tomorrow you can find the perfect combination of minerals/ vitamins and possibly supplements like flax seed and fish oil or adaptogens  like Ashwaghanda or calming herbs like kava kava ( roots only never leaves)  that will help you feel that you have your life back.
Calcium Magnesium has saved me and I wish you all great success in your search.

[matt_s]

Take comfort if they caught them on the monitor and told you they are ok.  I have been there to.  A few years ago when these palps got nasty I was checked out OK.  But I really could not come to terms with it.  I applied for some new life insurance as I felt the end was near!!  The life insurance company reviewed my medical record and approved my insurance at normal rates with no questions asked!!  Anyway, read this forum, there is a lot of people in your exact situation.