Aa
dumb question
How do you know the difference between pvc and pacs? what do each of them stand for? I have had psvt most of my life, when my heart jumps aroun or flutters the Dr. just calls it palpitations. Is that the same thing as pvc's and pacs? My DR does not offer much information and I dont know what questions to ask.
I was taken to the hospital by ambulance on Monday with this condition and I still don't know the difference. I was discharged because they told me everything returned to normal and to followup with my doctor.
I saw my doctor on Tuesday and he didn't tell me much except he thinks it happened because I have sleep apnea and I haven't been sleeping much lately because of pain.
They have me scheduled for a Holter Monitor on May 6th, and an Echocardiogram on May 7th. I guess I have to hope that it doesn't happen again between now and then. lol
Maybe someone will know the difference when I go for the tests.
I saw my doctor on Tuesday and he didn't tell me much except he thinks it happened because I have sleep apnea and I haven't been sleeping much lately because of pain.
They have me scheduled for a Holter Monitor on May 6th, and an Echocardiogram on May 7th. I guess I have to hope that it doesn't happen again between now and then. lol
Maybe someone will know the difference when I go for the tests.
based on several tests i believe my PVC's are a big thump with delay until next beat, while PAC's are more like a flip or a more forceful beat. But i could be wrong.
Thank you for responding. I take lopressor twice a day. I have been on it fot about 6 years it is the only medicine I have been on for pvst that I didn't break through after a month or so my heart rate used to be 138 while sleeping and 160 and on up when I was awake if I would excersise it would go to 200plus nto fun. but ever since I have been on lopressor my palp have gotten worse but the good new is my heart rate at rest is about 60 and when I excercise really hard it might go to 180. And my Dr. does not have a great bed side manner he is very intimedating. Actually about a year ago they took me off the cardiology list I cant see a cardiologist unless I can get a regular Dr to recommend me.
I get both and can not tell the difference. Sometimes I get a huge 'jolt' and other times barely a 'skip'. The forceful ones are v scary and sometimes there seems like there is a long pause. I hate them all, esp when they are constant...runs, clusters...bigeminy, etc. Not fun but I have had them for a v,v, long time. I am 63 so you young people, try not to worry to much and don't let them interfere with you life. Easy for me to say, I know!!!!!!!!
hmmm....
A palpitation is an "abnormal" awareness of your heartbeat - it is generally used to describe any unusual awareness of the beat but doesn't necessarily imply that the heartbeat itself is irregular or an arrhythmia etc.
PVCs originate from the ventricles - when I feel them they are like a thump or kick (bad ones are very disturbing) or other times they feel like a smooth slide in my heartbeat - I'm not even sure I always notice the smooth sliders.
PACs originate in the atria - I seem to always feel these and have had them during an echocardiogram (which allowed me to exactly identify what I was feeling with the Drs "diagnosis") so I feel confident in describing them - for me, PACs feel like a dramatic "hiccup" in my chest. I can often feel them coming, first I get a tightness or ache in the chest, then I feel a pause in the heart beat which makes me catch my breath a little (the hiccup!) and then my heart beats hard (I feel that) followed by a return to normal rhythm - sometimes I feel like my heart beats faster for a few beats to compensate after the skip but that doesnt always seem to happen and I may be mixing up the aftermath of a PVC with PAC aftermath on this last point - i'll have to start paying closer attention!
People's experiences seem to vary but I hope these descriptions help. Best of luck.
A palpitation is an "abnormal" awareness of your heartbeat - it is generally used to describe any unusual awareness of the beat but doesn't necessarily imply that the heartbeat itself is irregular or an arrhythmia etc.
PVCs originate from the ventricles - when I feel them they are like a thump or kick (bad ones are very disturbing) or other times they feel like a smooth slide in my heartbeat - I'm not even sure I always notice the smooth sliders.
PACs originate in the atria - I seem to always feel these and have had them during an echocardiogram (which allowed me to exactly identify what I was feeling with the Drs "diagnosis") so I feel confident in describing them - for me, PACs feel like a dramatic "hiccup" in my chest. I can often feel them coming, first I get a tightness or ache in the chest, then I feel a pause in the heart beat which makes me catch my breath a little (the hiccup!) and then my heart beats hard (I feel that) followed by a return to normal rhythm - sometimes I feel like my heart beats faster for a few beats to compensate after the skip but that doesnt always seem to happen and I may be mixing up the aftermath of a PVC with PAC aftermath on this last point - i'll have to start paying closer attention!
People's experiences seem to vary but I hope these descriptions help. Best of luck.
Hello...
PVC stands for (premature ventricular contraction) and PAC stands for a (premature atrial contraction)
Dr's will refer to both as palpitations. It really is difficult to distinguish the two unless you are having them while being monitored.
It is unfortunate that your Dr hasn't taken the time give you any kind of information. I imagine that you may have been asked if you had questions...since you mention that you aren't sure what particular questions to ask, he/she should sense this and offer you at least something.
Are you currently taking any type of medications?
PVC stands for (premature ventricular contraction) and PAC stands for a (premature atrial contraction)
Dr's will refer to both as palpitations. It really is difficult to distinguish the two unless you are having them while being monitored.
It is unfortunate that your Dr hasn't taken the time give you any kind of information. I imagine that you may have been asked if you had questions...since you mention that you aren't sure what particular questions to ask, he/she should sense this and offer you at least something.
Are you currently taking any type of medications?
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