Are ''runs'' of PVC's/PAC's common with Anxiety??

NicoletteAshley · 05-03-2007, 01:42 AM

I woke up this morning not feeling right, kind of nervous. I didn't eat a thing for breakfast, so when I was at the store with my mom, my stomach started growling, and I started to feel PVC's. I was feeling lightheaded, almost like I was going to faint. I told my mom that I needed something to eat, so we went out to eat. I thought that would make me feel better but it just got worse! While we went to another store, my mom and I were looking at stuff, and I told her that I think I needed to go the hospital. This is what happened then:my heart kept skipping beats every other beat, and it also felt like a constant fluttering in my throat. It would just not stop for about an hour if even longer. When we got home, it was still acting up, and I have never really experianced them lasting that long before. I felt weak and out of breath, and my hands were clammy. I literally started crying in the store, I was soooo scared. My mom got really upset with me, because she says I'am making them worse. I got really upset and told her that they came on almost as soon as I woke up, when I was hungry(my stomach had a burning/acidy like feeling too) so it wasn't like I was faking or exaggerating it. What REALLY bothers me is that I have had every blood test I can think of, an Echo that came back normal recently, and a load of other tests, and everything is normal, but I'am getting these runs of PVC"s and PAC's and they last a long time, afterwards I feel moody and exhausted. Was what happened to me a panic attack brought on by not eating(but when I ate it got worse) or something more serious. Does anyone else get these runs and runs of palps?? Will they cause any harm, seeing that my echo came back normal?? Sorry for all the questions, but I just don't know where else to go for good help and advice. Thanks so much for any replies. I REALLY need them.

~NicoletteAshley

siren1024 · 05-03-2007, 01:00 PM

I have constant PVC's and PAC's. They have gotten to the point where most of the time I hardly even notice them anymore. Sometimes, though, they do get bad and I panic. They got much worse when I started taking Prozac for anxiety which actually made my anxiety worse. I was referred to a cardiologist and had a normal echo (besides some mild mitral valve prolapse) and EEG's. I took an event monitor home and the results of my episodes were fine. Just PVC's, but normal, strong heart beat, no serious arrythmias. During my echo the tech was telling me that I have PVC's every 2-3 beats or so. Part of it could be because of the MVP, but the doctor said he thought it was exxacerbated by the anxiety.

When I finally resigned myself to the fact that my heart was fine and I wasn't going to die, the episodes became less and less severe because I didn't let my anxiety take over when they started.

A trick I learned from my Grandmother, who also has PVC's all the time, was tought to her by a doctor years ago. It really does work. When you start feeling the flutters, take a deep breath and hold it. Then bear down like you are having a bowel movement (or a baby! LOL.) and hold it for a count of 10 or so. Usually it only takes me 2 or 3 times of doing this and the episodes will discontinue. For some reason it seems to "reset" my heartbeat. My Grandmother has been coping with this technique for years.

When you get these heart episodes, just keep telling yourself (out loud if you can) "I'm not going to die! It's just my stupid anxiety!" etc... It always helped me to get "angry" at my anxiety. Instead of allowing the fight or flight response to lean towards flight, which will cause panic and make heart flutters worse, go towards fight. This sounds really insane, but if I'm at home, sometimes I will yell at myself and my anxiety, maybe punch some pillows or something. This allows the fight mechanism to take over and provides a stress release for it, instead of feeling the flight mechanism, which causes panic if you don't have anywhere to go. Above all, if you start feeling these, keep moving, talking, find somewhere to focus your attention and energy. You have to force yourself to stop feeling and thinking about your heartbeat. Sometimes I have just started jogging. When you run, your breathing is forced to become more regular, along with your heartrate. It will get your mind off your heartbeat and provide an outlet for the anxiety rush.

Good luck, and I hope this helps!

NicoletteAshley · 05-03-2007, 01:09 PM

Thank you so much for your reply!

peace1910 · 05-03-2007, 05:01 PM

hi nicolette,

i have had panic attacks for years accompanied by pvc's...got so bad one time i thought i was dying and went to the hospital...found out i was having a pvc every other beat, i'ts called bigeminy. they put me on inderal and it cleared up almost overnightl i still gets them once in awhile, but believe me, inderal literally saved me from going crazy. i've been on it since 1985 and it's used widely in ppl with anxiety disorders...just my two cents worth.

good luck peace

colby88 · 05-03-2007, 08:44 PM

I was put on low dose Atenolol (beta blocker) for anxiety and soon after started having PAC's. The Atenolol lowered my heart rate and my pulse was initiating a beat prematurely which I was feelng as a PAC. I stopped the Atenolol and the PAC's stopped.