increased instances of pvc's

I have had my dual chamber pacemaker for over 3 years now and about 18 months ago I started experiencing pvc's. They are increasing in frequency now and I experience them sometimes as much as 10 in one minute, but usually just 3-5 in a minute.
Does anyone have any advice about how I can change this?
I stopped drinking coffee completely and I rarely drink alcohol.

2 Comments

Very common

by ElectricFrank - 2009-09-25 11:09:22

PVC's result from a pace originating in the ventricles instead of the AV node. It seems like anything that can irritate or inflame the ventricle wall can cause them. They are very common in even the young with perfectly healthy hearts. They sure are a nuisance.

I seem to go through periods of having them. Coffee or alcohol (like a glass of wine with dinner) doesn't seem to affect mine. Over eating or eating something that bloats my stomach can bring them on especially if I set at the computer hunched forward. I've also suspected having a virus or infection bring them on.

One odd cure for me seems to be taking one of the NSAID drugs like Naproxen. I started taking it for joint pain and suddenly my PVC's stopped. At one point I thought the drug was upsetting my stomach and I stopped it. A few days later the PVC's were back. I've since gone to taking 3 of the coated aspirin before bedtime mainly for the joint pain, but again the PVC's vanished.

A warning and comment about trying this. If you are taking any blood thinners don't use NSAID's without checking it out with the doctor as the effects are additive. Also, the affect on PVC's may just be unique to me. I've never seen it suggested.I just ran into it by chance.

frank

Thanks!

by sandy529 - 2009-09-26 02:09:03

Your comments were extremely helpful.
My doctor hasn't been nearly this informative, he usually just says don't worry, it's not dangerous, without offering any further explanation. If I may offer this though, the cure for joint pain that I have always heard, and it's possibly an old wives tale, but I know many dancers who believe in it, is to eat avocados, bananas, black cherries and walnuts. A little off topic I know...
Thanks again,
Sandy

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