PVCs: Symptoms and Treatment - in Plain English!
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- Опубликовано: 26 сен 2024
- (Please hit "like" if you want more videos like this!) I explain what PVCs are, why they cause symptoms, and how to treat them, without using "doctor language!"
For other patient education videos, click my picture, then "Playlists" tab, and visit the Patient Education section! For an office consultation at Temple University, click www.templeheal... or call us at 215-707-7526 to make an appointment.
Finally, someone with a decent bedside manner who can explain things properly. Thank you.
So true! It seems like a rarity now a days.
My PVC is extreme, at least to me. I can't ever take a deep breathe, extreme fatigue all day, and cough everytime one occurs which is sometime 10 per minute on a not so great day. My doctor prescribed 500mg of magnesium per day for two weeks, and then it will be stepped up to 750mg per day. We are taking it one step at a time. It all started 4 years ago on an uncomfortable camping trip where I didn't get any sleep the first night. Everything was screwed the following day and has only gotten worse. I feel for everyone suffering from this horrible affection.
thank you for this, PVC's combined with extreme anxiety and hypocondraicism is one hell of a combo.
I've changed my diet, begun anxiety and blood pressure medication, and decreased daily life stressors. I have seen some improvement, but nothing final. I appreciate this video reminding me that I will be ok, it's just scary in the moment.
Sometimes a tight diaphragm is the cause, or air trapped in stumach area, try stretch it breath into the lower stomach and then sidewards, keep it for some seconds and repeat..
@@audiokees4045 I think this would be my case 😢 what to do with diaphragm? My back muscles are so tight too, many knots
@@Alexzu640 I am now busy with yoga and go let examine mine stumach and foodpipe because of reflux. I have PVC,s I had a lot past days, and now it get better, I have no pvc when on bed, and doing butyco breathing. when wake up I have no pvc,s going to walk or bicycle I get them, and then dissapair, but now it is better. I had a big stress period losing mother and a friend who has cancer. I had examins in hospital, the whole bunch like echo stresstest and holter. Not dangerous, but annoying.
The absolute best video explanation on this subject for the normal person thank you
Thank you so much for your kind comments! I thought there was an unmet need for true patient-oriented videos on several topics, including PVCs, to explain things in non-medical terms. I'm so glad you found this one helpful!!
What a great video, thanks so much. I also what get what feels like a flutter for a second or so is that also a type of PVC? Wore a holtor for 72 hrs gp said all good but never felt the flutter during that time of course !! Lol. Thanks again wish you happy holidays.
@@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917 i have them frequently, i take metoprolol but it causes me to feel high some what, it calms the heart some but its uncomfortable when i feel high
@@rickganzel4720 Yes, a brief flutter sensation is common with PVCs. And yes, it's so common that they disappear when getting an EKG or wearing a 24h Holter monitor 😂
That's why longer term wearable monitors (7-30 days), or even using a phone/watch app is more likely to catch the culprit!
@@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917 hi Dr. I am feel 5 to 25 PVCs par day.and I have also mvp with mild MR and my lvef is 60.
Dr give me a Beta blocker it's name is ciplar la 20 mg par day.so my Dr give me a good treatment??
Thank you for this easily understood explanation. Doctors fail to understand how frightening it is to a patient, and do not explain other than stating it's "normal.". They fail to see that it is not normal for the one experiencing it, so thank you, again.
exactly how I felt Dorothy. This video really put me at ease, hope for you too.
@@fmbead53 Yes, I really appreciate these presentations. Better late than never, I guess. I wish the best for you.
Completely agree that standard GPs are far too blasé in their explanations and think that saying ‘nothing to worry about’ is enough. It’s not. I wish my doctor had explained this to me in full the first time pvcs were diagnosed. Instead I walked out of the office with a lot of uncertainty which snowballed into a state of anxiety.
Thank you very much for this explanation.
Magnesium !!!! I have had PVCs for the last year now. Prior to that I would get increase heart rate while doing minimal things. It all seemed to be connected with me eating, or rather not eating. After years of trying to figure out what was going on with my body, I concluded that I was vitamin deficient. After watching this video I saw several people mentioned Magnesium so I started taking 400mg daily. My daily pvcs have almost gone completely. And still getting better. I almost feel 100% normal again. I did check with cardiologist first (well after i started) and he said me taking magnesium was fine. Not sure if this will work for everyone but it was the best suggestion I had in a decade. Hope it helps 🙏🏾
Hi, could you tell me the brand name?
@@chick758 Over the counter magnesium oxide is often used, and works for some patients. 400mg daily or so is the usual dose that people might try.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
It's probably best that you should've had a blood test done and also do an electrolyte measure test to know if you're deficient or not.
I had a-fib and taking magnesium helped a lot.
Wish you were my cardiologist. Mine just said "You've got PVCs, don't worry about it"! You gave a great explanation as to why it feels like my heart skips beats when it's actually an extra beat. Thank you so much.
@@stewartsa1 Yes, a little extra time and thoughtful explanation can go a long way! Unfortunately due to extreme demands on physicians' time these days, most don't have/take the time to do patient education about things that are impacting quality of life rather than medical risk. Resources like this can help make a difference!
@@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917 Thank you for taking the time to reply
Watching this as I lay here in bed dealing with these symptoms happening several times a minute, which scare the crap out of me because it feels like my heart is completely stopping wondering if it's gonna beat the next time it's supposed to. I know it's supposed to be "normal" but it sure doesn't feel normal.
Great video and great explanation!
I hear you! I also feel suddenly frightened when I feel PVCs, for the same reasons (and this is *my* area of expertise!).
My video is not intended to suggest that having PVCs with symptoms is "normal" and should be dismissed - to the contrary, despite being very common (and usually benign), it isn't "normal" to be aware of one's heartbeat. And it's scary! As I've mentioned, there's a difference between "not dangerous" and "normal." Depending on the frequency and severity of PVC symptoms, there are treatment options available to improve quality of life, although it's perfectly fine to "just live with the symptoms" of PVCs if that's what the patient decides to do after a thorough discussion of the options. And some lifestyle modifications can often help reduce symptoms, including being well hydrated, getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and trying to reduce stress as much as possible (a tall order nowadays!). Best of luck to you!
Are you ok I’m having so many tonight
@@PaigeC.94 Yeah, knock on wood, I've been doing pretty good the last couple months. I have a few that I notice from time to time but nothing like what I've had on and off over the last 5 or so years.
I hope you get to feeling better soon. I know it's scary, but you'll get through it. Best thing I've found is, if possible, try to do something that takes your mind off of it.
@@PaigeC.94 mine just started so scary giving me major anxiety
I've been dealing with the exact same thing since the 90's--it still doesn't feel "normal".
What a fantastic explanation! I’ve been struggling with severe PVCs for last 3 months. Finally saw a cardiologist and have a stress test scheduled next week. I’ve been driving myself crazy over these as sometimes they are so rough and take my breath away but I still exercise regularly. He wasn’t too concerned with my ekg as it only showed one pvc but as precaution we did a holter and ordered a stress test. I wish my doctor would have explained this to me instead of letting me walk out of the office with high anxiety. Thank you so much for this video!!
I just went to the er last night 1/15/2023 have to get my holter tomorrow
@@jerseygirl7135 I hope all is well! My holter showed over 4700 PVCs in 24 hours. Stress test was phenomenal and I still have no answers !
@@amjolu I had a similar experience. During the stress test the PVC's completely went away, which is what the Dr. expected to see. None of the Dr.'s I've seen seem alarmed in anyway...I think it's because they know it's not really anything to be concerned about. I think the biggest problem is just our reaction to having them! Not long after my stress test the PVC's completely went away and stayed away for about 6 months. But they did return a few months ago but not as bad as they were last year. For me it's just annoying that they came back, and I think what really bothers me is I just feel like my body is letting me down, that I'm somehow "defective".
@@jerseygirl7135 hello jersey girl, I started to develop pvcs and pacs for 3 years. I have done 2 echocardiogram, lots of ekgs, blood work, and 3 ziopatches, which is a small monitor to record your heart beets for up to 6 weeks. Everything came Beck pretty normal, rare pvcs and pacs. They do still cause me lots of anxiety, and still feel some daily. My cardiologist has told me if your heart is structural normal, no worries, unless your getting 15 thousand a day. I still will never get used to the feeling of having pvcs
Be well, greetings from Jersey
@@amjolu I hope they haven't gotten your pvc's figured out. They are almost always no big deal. Mine were probably about like yours at first (one and a half years ago) so they first put me on beta blocker metroprolol 25 mg per day. They made me feel much better but they sent me to an electro physiologist (heart "electrician") and he also put me on flecainide 50 mg 2x per day and I feel great now! My pvc's now are only 1 in every 100 beats.
Great explanation. I had a heart PVC ablation, the outcome was well worth it. Took about 3 months for them to subside completely, amazing what modern medicine can do.
Hey. I had an ablation done for PVCs in London 10 days ago. They procedure went well and the surgeon said it was a success. However, I have not really noticed much difference, if any. I guess this is the process of the scar tissue forming, which may take 3 months, like in your case? I would appreciate some reassurance here as I have convinced myself it hasn't worked.
@@ollythomas2863 How was your recovery? Was there pain after the procedure for some period of time?
How many pvc did you have?
This video and the people commenting their problems has really made me feel like I'm understood. I have an anxiety disorder and have had panic attacks in the past, so I am always hypervigilant about my heart and whether or not my chest feels any sort of discomfort. PVCs are new to me though, I'm almost 30 and they started coming in attack-like patterns at times, and now at night they're very strong to the point that they keep me up. They make me feel scared and dread going to sleep. I've lost sleep from this, I've had emotional breakdowns over it even after going to a doctor and confirming they are PVCs. I feel like I'm a crazy person sometimes, or am being weird and unhinged for feeling so scared of these really strong thumps in my heart. The comments of other people also suffering through this makes me feel a sense of solidarity, and it really helps.
Thanks Doctor Cooper for the video for explaining this clearly, and thanks to everyone in the comments sharing their problems too.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Indeed, PVC sensations can be very frightening, and can also create a vicious cycle with anxiety/panic attacks as well. But knowledge is power. And that's why I created this video. And I would encourage you to speak with an EP doctor who can review treatment options with you, including a discussion about quality of life (which is the most common issue with PVCs, given they are mostly benign - but that doesn't mean we just ignore the issues of symptoms!). Best of luck to you and I'm pleased you found this video and the associated comments to be helpful!
This is exactly everything I've been feeling and experiencing and trying so hard to explain to my cardiologist. They tell me everything is normal because they aren't frequent enough to cause concern. But the sensations were causing me panic attacks and making the palpitations even worse and it was turning into a horrible cycle.
As a physician and a computer graphics enthusiast, I want to thank you for this excellent presentation. This is exactly what RUclips should be used for.
I might also add that this is the first time I have heard that there is anything that can be done for PVC other than "avoid caffeine, cocaine, stress, menstration, Magnesium or medications".
If you are a computer graphics enthusiast, then my humble apologies for the very rudimentary attempts at drawing and animation in this and other presentations! :) I appreciate your kind words!
@@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917hey doc, I'm getting PVCs so bad it constantly feels like someone is sitting on my chest. I also have to breathe deep to make myself feel like I'm not going to pass out. I've had two occasions where I thought I was going arrhythmic and I was being kicked in the chest repeatedly by a horse. That happened for like an hour and a half. Should I try to go for beta blockers or an ablation?
@@thatsright4194 Everybody is different, and you should talk to your doctor about treatment options. For some people, it is worth trying medications first. Beta blockers sometimes work but often don't. Antiarrhythmic medications such as flecainide often work better than beta blockers for those who are trying a medication strategy first. Catheter ablation works best in people who have relatively frequent PVCs so they can be mapped in the EP lab and successfully ablated (and also if there is one main location of pvc's rather than multiple).
@@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917 thanks for responding doctor. I also forgot to mention the two times I thought I was going arrhythmic I started to lose feeling in my arms and tingling in my face. Also my occupation is as a professional fire fighter so when I'm on shift and I get a bad episode I become basically useless.
@@thatsright4194 It sounds like your symptoms are significantly impacting your life, including your work. I would highly recommend seeing a cardiologist or EP doc, getting some heart recordings with either a prescribed heart monitor or a self-purchased heart monitor (such as Kardia mobile), and discussing a plan to treat (and hopefully eliminate) your symptoms. The arm and face symptoms are not typical of PVCs, and you should discuss those symptoms with your doctor as well. Best of luck to you and I hope you get some answers and effective treatment!
Thank you for taking the time to put this video together and sharing it. My family wants a clearer explanation than what my doctors could give them. This is super clear.
I just received a double ablation and a pacemaker/shocker combo 5 days ago. During the EP Study, I was thrown into VT twice. Thus the double ablation and shocker. 👍
For what it is worth, I haven’t felt a single PVC since the surgery. I think I was very lucky. Before surgery, I had full time bigeminy, and randomly it would line up 2 and at the worst times, 3 in a row for almost a minute. When those happened, I felt like I was on death’s door. 😢
Talk to your doctor if you’re feeling irregular heartbeats. It’s not worth taking a chance. I survived a, 100% occlusion main left artery, heart attack 7 years ago, so I’m super fortunate to be here today. I’m a little stubborn, and I refuse to lay down when things are going bad. 🤷♂️ I literally would not sit or lay down during my heart attack until I was in ICU. I then knew they had me. They lost me once, but was revived.
Sorry this is so long, to be honest, it hurts my mind even talking about all this. I guess I’m finally letting it all out.
Nice to meet you all! 🤣 And please take care. People love you and don’t want to lose you. 🥰
I have had PVCs for the past 10+ years. I have seen about five cardiologists during that time and have several tests done and worn heart monitors, etc. I am always told my PVCs are benign but they are still so worrisome when I feel them, usually around stressful events or two weeks before my period. Your explanation has been the most helpful thing I have ever heard, read or been told. I thank you so much for giving me a little peace by explaining exactly what I feel and why.
mentally there not benign! lol
ive hd this since 2016 they come and go for me
Do you still have the pvcs??
@@MrAlmorisi yes. They’re awful, but I know they’re hormone related.
how r u diong? txjen
Been dealing with them for going on 12 years and it's negatively impacted every part of my life. Get more sleep is a great recommendation except they are exactly what keeps me awake. If I have a strong bout of them I can pretty much count on not sleeping for a few weeks which definitely makes it worse. Numerous doctors telling me that there's nothing to worry about doesn't mean anything when I'm laying down to sleep and my heart feels like it's doing cartwheels in my chest.
Same here 😢
did they go away?
I suffer from anxiety, I noticed that when I go prolonged amount of time with anxiety I start developing tons of PVC
Check your adrenal glands
Adrenaline can definitely be a triggering factor for PVCs in many people. Stress, anxiety are very common reasons that people feel more PVCs. I wish I had a good cure for stress and anxiety! There is definitely a brain-heart connection and taking care of mental health also helps the heart! (treatments for PVCs also work for patients who find they are more frequent at times of stress, so it's very reasonable to talk to your doctor about managing PVC symptoms if you find they are bothersome enough to you that you'd consider treatment options)
Dr. Joshua Cooper - Arrhythmia Education are pvcs that are caused by anxiety dangers? Sometimes I get so many really close together during stressful times and it really scares me. It’s been happening daily for me the last few weeks.
@@ericaciuffreda1606 It is very common for PVCs to flare up during times of stress. Those PVCs are no different from PVCs that occur at other times, but they often feel more significant because they are associated with times of anxiety. And if the PVCs cause even more anxiety, then that can trigger more PVCs, so that escalation of stress and PVCs can feel frightening. Recognizing what is going on, and knowing that the PVCs are not a sign that something bad is happening, can help many people regain some mental control over the situation. Relaxation techniques are often very helpful at such times.
@@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917 thank you!
This is the best and most articulate explanation of PVCs I've ever heard. The visual was also very helpful. This doctor s a born teacher. But I beg to differ about something he said: cardiac ablation is NOT "minimally invasive!" It doesn't get much more invasive than having someone insert a wire into your heart! I've had two ablations for PVCs and VT with different EPs at different institutions and neither was successful. Both ablations brought me close to death due to unexpected complications that arose during the procedures. After the second one, I also developed pericarditis. I'm sure there are many people who've had better experiences than mine, but don't let anyone tell you that ablation isn't invasive.
@@batyaswiftyasgur9500 Thank you so much for sharing your perspective! The term "minimally invasive" refers to the size of the incision (ablation is not open heart surgery and there is no "cutting" involved but instead it is done, as you know, using large IV's in the blood vessels in the groin) and this term is by no means intended to imply that there is no risk. I am sorry to hear that you had 2 challenging experiences with ablation. It is so important for any procedure we do, whether open surgery or minimally invasive, that we discuss the risks and benefits and decide together when it is appropriate to do a procedure versus use medications to manage a medical problem such as an arrhythmia.
Thank you, doc. This video is a welcome light in the dark tunnel that is the life of many people who suffer from PVCs.
I'm glad you found it helpful. Hopefully your health care team can help bring you out of the tunnel and into the light by addressing your symptoms from PVCs!
Plz keep posting such amazing informative videos!!!
Many doubts cleared in a very simple way,,,
tons of thanks!!!
Thank you so much for your kind feedback! So glad the video was helpful to you! I have so many additional topics in mind, but the clinical pressure to prioritize as much patient care activity as possible dramatically cuts into my available time to create new educational content. It'll still be coming, but slower than I'd like!
Thank you so much for this video! This explained more than I ever expected, especially after my doctor's didn't break it down quite like this! Understanding what is actually happening is a relief in itself!
Knowledge is power. So glad this video gave you a little more understanding and control over your situation. 👍
This was the best explanation I've seen and heard. I asked the nurse what it was on my heart monitor and they had no idea and just let me freak tf out. Thank you for this video
That was a very good explanation. My cardiologist explained the PVCs using my EKG printout and I felt like I understood what he was saying. The way that you explained them, especially using the diagrams, made it even more clear. Before I understood what was happening, the PVCs were freaking me out. I have bradycardia already, so laying in bed at night and feeling like I was missing even more heart beats was causing a bit of additional stress. Knowing that I’ve been checked out, that they don’t happen enough for the doctor to be concerned about, and understanding what’s actually going on, I no longer lie awake at night waiting for the next one to hit. Thank you for sharing this helpful video with us.
So glad to hear that your cardiologist cared enough to offer an explanation. Gives me hope just knowing that some physicians care.
I watched lot of videos on this subject (PVC). All these videos are almost same. It looks like these videos were not made for a common man. They created more confusion rather than explaining the subject. Your explanation is very simple and comprehensive and goes right into the brain. I was struggling for many days, you solved the problem. I highly appreciate your effort and thank you from my heart. THANKS AGAIN.
I got diagnosed with these 22 years ago and was scared for a long time until eventually I just learned to live with them but I definitely notice them from time to time and have figured out certain foods or activities seem to make them more common and also get regularly screened as my mom died from something called ventricular fibrillation at 25. Thank you for finally explaining this in a way I could understand!
How can you live with this. I'm thinking of suicide every day because of this
I have had them for decades, also, Chris. They got really bad this past year, very frightening. My cardiologist was indifferent so I began taking Magnesium which has helped tremendously. I am 77 and have enough other things to worry about!
@@dorothybrown8859 I’m glad your feeling better and hope all is well!
@@chrisslaunwhite685 I feel physically better, but would feel mentally better if my cardiologist showed some interest and would explain. I have seen several and all treat me the same. At least my present one orders testing (carotid scans), something that I can research on my own to understand the results. I feel doctors as a whole seem fearful to offer explanations. It's no wonder. His nurse practitioner told me I had LVH, and when I questioned him about it at my 6th month follow-up, he said I did not have LVH. I am a RN so I can understand better than perhaps the average patient, but geez!
What type of food ?
I have a great cardiologist in Singapore, but I still loved this explanation. With my 20K PVCs a day on a bad day, I am planning to get an ablation soon.
I hope you get well soon❤
Thank you for the terrific explanation! I'm one of those who gets thousands of pvcs a day and have been on medication for nearly 4 years now. Scary when you can feel them over and over again....
Get ablation. I just had it yesterday. Its painless they put me to sleep. I’m so happy that I’m cured now
@@pleoana How are you doing now since the Ablation? Was it scary to have done ? My doctor wants to talk to me about it and I’m scared 😟
Thank you, thank you for this video. I get PVC when I'm stressed but it doesn't go away when I'm not stressed any more, it normally takes a day or two . I am medicated with Beta Blockers for fast heart beat. But not for "skipped beats" I get uncomfortable mentally when they come which makes them worse. Because I didn't understand, but your video helps so much, which should help me stay calm and not think I'm going to die when they start ❤
I've had 3 heart surgeries and now have an on-x valve... I've never been explained pvcs so well. Well done. I get it now
Thanks so much. I'm thrilled that this particular video has resonated with patients. My a.fib videos didn't seem to take off like this PVC one; maybe the a.fib videos need a makeover! :)
Your the real mvp for this video lol!! I'm one of the people with a strong beat that I feel. Almost like a kick and it's very scary sometimes. When I have them I'm going to remember this video and tell myself "your ok". These pvcs really affect alot of people and cause terrible cardiophobia. This video explains it so well and makes me feel better. This is priceless. Thankyou so much!!
Thanks Doc! Went for an EKG this morning because of a strange/ off-rythym feeling heart beat. They told me I have PVC. (And I feel it every time!😕) Thank you for making this informative video!!
@Excelsior Simulations if you haven't seen a doc.. I suggest you do. I went to the E.R because I started getting worried when it wouldn't stop. I got a referral to a cardiologist who spent a lot of time in my first appointment explaining that I'm not in danger and not to attribute every pain, zap, or flutter to something wrong happening. I've noticed it's the worst at nighttime trying to sleep. Sometimes if I doze off I suddenly sit upward with my heart racing. Very unsettling. That feeling of shock or a sudden rush of adrenaline also sometimes accompany the fluttering. Still uncharted waters for me, but I've started getting used to the sensation in my chest and continue looking for more answers. Hope your feeling better.
Hey. Did it go away? Were mire tests necessary like an Echo or was your doctor happy to leave it be?
Excellent explanation and illustration. I work for a cardiology specialty that includes electrophysiology and am a PVC and a-fib/a-flutter patient myself. I will refer new non-clinical employees to your video from now on. Thank you!
Thank you so much Dr cooper for wonderful explanation in simple words!! I m a surgeon and taking metoprolol 25 daily,,
Consumers many cardiologist but not properly informed and explained about this issue as you cleared all the doubts and worries for everyone!!!
Salute to you!!
Been dealing with these on and off for several months now and have been very very worrisome. Your video along with the reassurance from the ER team that looked after me have brought me a much needed peace of mind. Thank you so much.
I'm with you. How you doing now? Mine go off and on as well.
I have always had an underlying panic disorder, but the past few months have been a nightmare for me with emotional breakdowns nearly every day. Now the past few months I have had PVC episodes at random which don’t seem to coincide exactly with “panic attacks” but I am basically stressed all day now. I swim for four hours a day on an intercollegiate sports team so I was doubtful that something was seriously wrong with my heart but it was very concerning to feel my heartbeat have a skipped beat and then a very hard beat. Thank you for the video
I know this video was posted a few years ago, but good information never gets old and the video was very helpful, very clear, and very easy to understand. It was also comforting to hear an expert explain why these irregular heartbeats feel the way they do. Thank you!
Thank you for this omg so helpful. I get so stressed out when I get them
Yes, PVCs can be very stressful for so many - it's worth talking to a cardiologist or EP doc about possible treatment options to help manage symptoms.
Finally! Thank you for a simple, easy to understand explanation on PVC's
This was really helpful! Thank you!
I’ve been having troubles to being comfortable at doing exercise… I feel my heart at its fullest and I get afraid I’m forcing it to work hard so I avoid it.
I was diagnosed with PVC trigemini six years ago with a holter monitor, more than 10,000 a day and got medication for about a year with beta blockers.
Indeed… with stress I tend to trigger them again but not at the frequency as before. Last month I started to feel them again frequently and got symptoms again so I got a second holter study. I had only 12 in 24 hrs! But still… exercise is something I’m avoiding out of fear even though I love it :(
Gin Gin, i also have pvcs all day. I've done all the test and all came back ok. I'm 34. My hearts is ok and blood tests as well so my doctor prescribed me Bisoprolol 2.5mg a day and it's better. What Beta Blocker did your doctor prescribed you? I have extreme anxiety now but 3 years ago when pvcs started, i didn't gave them attention at all.
Thanks! Perfect Dr...from my experience, everyone believes me, the reason is from your mental health...anxiety, low self confidence, depression, stressed or worried most of times or scared from dieing are the most common problems caused pvc or tachycardia
I believe so.. started having them since three days n it's so scary
Knowledge is power. I've had cardiophobia for 25 years, anxiety through the roof at periods where I have to be on anti-anxiety medications since age 17, currently on Amitriptyline 45mg for 3 months just to sleep normal due to horrible generalised anxiety/cardiophobia.
Thank you Dr! No one has explained it to me the way you did here, that rubber band example was genius! Gave me much peace of mind, mine are like 5 to10 daily but each one of them stops me in my tracks_my whole brain flips into a sense of fear, then the imagined scenario " this is a bad one! My heart's electricity might go haywire sending it into a quiver, like a bag of worms" a fatal scenario 😌
I've been popping magnesium for 8 months now trying to eradicate them. This video was extremely helpful today.
5 or 10 a day? That's it?? I have that many every minute, basically. Have for many years--try that out for size.
@@pigalow2002
Yes but you have no idea how having this coupled with anxiety disorder feels like! I have to take Amitriptyline and Valium for panic attacks.
@@azmagaref oh yes I do!!
@@pigalow2002
Unless you suffer GAD plus panic attacks, then you have no idea about the horror of living with that.
@@azmagaref I had a horrible bout of anxiety & panic attacks when I was younger-went to the ER 3 times in 2 months. I know EXACTLY what that feels like. Slept literally about an hour a night. Lost 20 pounds. In 2 months. I know.
really excellent description of pics.
Yes, the best video in terms of being easily understood, friendly, illustrative, and reassuring. Thank you so much!
I have seen more than 300 articles or videos on this topic and this is top video, or at least within top 3. That's impressive!!! I have learnt from here the difference between electical signal and pulse strength.and also rhe coughing. This doctor is a genius!
After watching some lecture videos (for medical students or conferences), this was a gift: Simple, clear, with good illustrations to explain a condition I recently was diagnosed with. Very well done, thank you.
I'm so happy to be of help! Thanks for the great feedback! :)
This was an excellent video and put my mind at ease so much. I believe this is exactly my issue and it's relief to know it's likely not serious. Here I've been thinking i was dying.
Hi there, I have the same problem, only last week it happened to me on Tuesday and Saturday and yesterday Monday, you know there's something wrong. I start to panic at first then to feel really lightheaded. My longest episode lasted 2 hours which was on the Tuesday, I told my cardiology consultant what i was experiencing back in the end of March, but he didn't say thing. I will have to go to the doctors and explain what's been going on. After watching this video I know exactly what's been going on, but its difficult to get it across to the doctors 😊
Thanks a lot for explaining Doc! Very re assuring and easy to follow.
I have been having PVCs for around 6 months now. I am certain they are more than 10000 in a day. I have calculated 15-20 extra beats per minute. I have been to 2-3 cardiac specialists, all of them recommend doing nothing. It really scares me though. I want to get the Ablation procedure done but my doctor thinks meditating and exercising should be enough. I just want to have a normal heartbeat again!
Thanks for sharing your story. A heart monitor can quantify how many PVCs occur in 24h, and a 7-14 day monitor can further demonstrate whether there are consistently more than 10,000 per day (which tends to be about the cutoff where impact on heart function may occur). In people with over 10,000 PVCs per day and evidence of a drop in heart function, and/or in people with symptomatic PVCs that warrant treatment, ablation can be highly effective. Stress reduction activities can help temporarily reduce PVCs, but I am not aware that this could be an effective substitute for more definitive suppression or elimination of PVCs.
If you are not satisfied with the advice your doc is giving, it is very appropriate to seek another opinion. Best of luck to you!
Thank you for taking the time out to reply Doc. You're truly an angel! I will look into the 7 day monitor and will get a second opinion if needed. Thank you for your kindness. Bless you Doc, bless you 🙏🏼🙂
@Autumn Rose You are likely seeing different numbers of PVCs required to cause a weak heart is for 2 main reasons:
1) Different studies used different cutoffs as a criteria as part of their study design; some used 10% or 15% or 20%, and therefore the study can only conclude yes/no based on the % PVCs they decided to study
2) Everyone is different with regard to how sensitive their heart is to PVCs. Some can have weakening of their heart from 10% PVCs over time, and others need 20-30% PVCs for their heart to weaken.
But it would be highly unusual for someone with < 10,000 per day to have PVCs result in weakening of the heart - I can't say it's impossible, but studies have not shown an association with that few PVCs and cardiomyopathy (weakening of the pumping strength of the heart). Conversely, there are people with 25,000 PVCs per day and a strong heart for years - it may be that if such people are watched for longer, they may eventually develop heart weakening. So we often get yearly ultrasounds (echocardiograms) to follow heart function over time.
Here's one good article about PVC frequency and risk of heart weakening. It's by Baman, and published in Heart Rhythm Journal in 2010. It showed that a PVC rate of 24% best predicted a risk of heart weakening, but there were people with as few as 10% who also had weakening (there was variability person to person in how many PVCs were needed to cause problems for them). Nobody below 10% PVCs in this study had effect on heart function.
https: //pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20348027/
Here is their Results summary: "A reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (mean 0.37 +/- 0.10) was present in 57 of 174 patients (33%). Patients with a decreased ejection fraction had a mean PVC burden of 33% +/- 13% as compared with those with normal left ventricular function 13% +/- 12% (P 24% best separated the patient population with impaired as compared with preserved left ventricular function (sensitivity 79%, specificity 78%, area under curve 0.89) The lowest PVC burden resulting in a reversible cardiomyopathy was 10%. In multivariate analysis, PVC burden (hazard ratio 1.12, 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.16; P
Exceptional description/explanation of PVCs in just 12 minutes. Congratulations!!!
I'm thrilled to her that you found the video intelligible and useful! :) Thanks so much for your kind words!
I have had them most notable for 7 years all the tests back fine for the heart echo stress holster should PVC during a 7 day wear but not enough to be of notice the pattern I saw was after eaten also found out shortly after visiting my cardiologist I visited my GI Dr having a Endoscopy found that I have a sliding hiatal hernia for which he tells me can cause PVC and Palpation I also got the same statement from my cardiologist have you heard of this also? Also that you for your time in talking with the people in your response s
There are a variety of things that can trigger PVCs in different people. Some of these triggers involve the network of nerves in the body that control blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, sweating, and other things (called the "autonomic nervous system"). So it would not be surprising for a gastrointestinal issue in the upper abdomen/chest, such as a hiatal hernia, to possibly interact with the heart via the autonomic nervous system, and be related to PVC frequency!
Thank you so much! This clears up any confusion I had prior to watching your video. I suffer from PVCs and have an ICD now. I've shared your video with my family to help explain my condition. If I had understood all of this 30 years ago; maybe I could've taken earlier action that would have prevented the implant.
Glad the video was helpful to you. People with PVCs generally are at low risk for life-threatening arrhythmias and as such do not need an ICD; the 2 main exceptions are 1)there is another heart condition present that both increases the risk for dangerous arrhythmias and also causes PVCs to happen, or 2)PVCs have occurred at a high frequency (at least more than 10,000-15,000 per day, which is ~10-15% of all the heartbeats) and as a result, the heart got weaker over time and a decision was made to implant a preventative ICD due to the weak heart (low ejection fraction). In scenario #2, however, the weakened heart may be able to strengthen back up if the PVCs are addressed with medication or catheter ablation; and an ICD can often be avoided if this "reversible" cause of a weakened heart is successfully addressed in a timely fashion. I wish you the best of health and thank you for the wonderful feedback!
Is this psvt.?. My mom showing all symptoms of psvt.. doctor are relating to h(high) -bp and change bp medicine but problem is same.. she gets episode..
The clarity with which you explained is astounding. Thanks for a great lecture
First of all...thanks so much for this video. It's so helpful and very easily explained. I've recently (within the past year) started having PVC'S. I also have panic disorder, so it can be a vicious cycle at times. 🥴 One thing I try to remember (in case this helps anyone else suffering with anxiety and PVC'S) is that I've been told that unless I feel like I'm going to pass out or have bad chest pain, I'm most likely fine. The "skips" and strong thumps are annoying and scary, but it seems the more I brush them off, the less I have.
Thanks again for your wonderful explanation!
Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm sorry to hear about the PVCs which create anxiety, but bravo for having the insight and fortitude to gain some control over them! It can indeed be a vicious cycle of PVCs causing panic, which causes more PVCs, so anything that can break the cycle will be helpful. In this case, simply gaining some understanding about what PVCs are, why they make you feel a certain way, and how they are usually very benign, can be therapeutic by decreasing some of the fear and anxiety. Thanks for sharing your insights with me and other viewers! Best of luck to you.
Plenty of magnesium at bedtime will help in two ways...1. More restful sleep 2.reduction or elimination of PVCs.
I have the exact same problem. Anxiety and panic problems and hellacious PVCs. I hope I qualify for ablation soon.
Hey can you sleep at night
Me too! Magnesium has been helping me tremendously
I went to the ER last night because I was experiencing PVCs and was unfamiliar. I felt continuous heart palpitations and panicked. ER ran EKG and did blood work and said I’m healthy, and PVCs are “normal.” Certainly didn’t feel normal and now I’m even very stressed out about them which is apparently making them worse.
Being 50 and having this happen repeatedly is enough to drive me insane.
Great explanation and this helped more than my ER visit.
I’m 48. Just went to er last night 1/15/23 for these. All booodwork fine and ekg was normal. I’m going to get holter tomorrow.
im experiencing right now
This was a great simple PVC explanation that is easily understood. You have a gift, keep using it.
I can also feel what seems to be missing heartbeats as well when I check my pulse with a finger. This is absolutely the best video on PVCs I've seen so far. Apparently I've had PVCs for years and was never able to feel them until I came down with COVID in late February where I ended up in the ER. We need smart doctors like you around here. But we get all of the dumb doctors.
Some people feel their PVCs and others do not. Yes, a "missed" beat when feeling the pulse is a strong clue that a PVC occurred. Lots of factors can cause PVCs to flare up or quiet down, including viral and other respiratory illnesses. Docs aren't really given much time to educate patients during office visits, which is why I decided to post some patient education videos for those who wished to do a little self-teaching! I'm glad you found this video to be helpful!
@@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917 high blood pressure causes etcopic beats or not ??
You make my day. Thank doctor I really appreciate ❤. I calmed down after watching your advice.
I have been having these the last month or two and they are very noticeable and freak me out. I have been to the cardiologist and wore a monitor for a week and they said my heart is ok and it’s normal to have these sometimes. I honestly think mine started after I had COVID and I strongly believe mine are COVID related. COVID can have so many effects on your body after you recover and many people will have new health issues later on, and I think this is happening to me.
With that said I also suffer from anxiety and panic and I have tons of stress lately so maybe that is also making the pvcs worse.
Anyone else that can relate?
Yeah mine started after a month of having covid.. i think covid caused different effects in our body.. I have less than one percent of PVC's but those symptoms really bothering me. While other people could have 20000 PVC's a day and feel just fine
Same here... M too suffering....m soo worried don't know how to deal with it.... How r u doing now???
@@village_life_rk still get them occasionally
@@village_life_rk still get them occasionally, I’m sure you will be fine
Nursing clinical instructor here! This is wonderful explanation of PVCs easy to understand for new learners. I have shared with my students. Thank you so much!
Hello from England! thank you for this, I have been experiencing major health anxiety and this brings on lots of pvcs, my holter monitor showed a run of 4 pvcs in a row that was classed as “NSVT” I have no underlying health conditions, so I guess this is normal with anxiety? Thank you for your help in this video
Thanks so much for your comments. 2 PVCs in a row is known as a "couplet." 3 PVCs in a row is known as a "triplet." 3 or more PVCs in a row is known as "non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT)." Many PVCs in a row, lasting over 30 seconds, is known as "ventricular tachycardia (VT)." Just like single PVCs are often triggered by anxiety and other sources of adrenaline, so too are NSVT episodes. When longer and/or more frequent NSVT is seen on heart monitoring, we often look for heart conditions that could be associated with these episodes. A rare occurrence of 4 PVCs in a row, in the setting of a normal heart (assessed by an EKG, an ultrasound/echo of the heart, +/- stress test) is usually benign. Talk to your doctor about whether she/he recommends any further evaluation after your Holter monitor results. Best of luck to you!
How about 3 PACs in a row?
The very best explanation for the urge to cough and the choking sensation. Thank you.
thanks so much for this video! i’m sure it’s helped reassure so many as it has myself. my worry is my electrical issue (pvc) causing a more serious arrhythmia such as vfib. i had an ablation for svt in 2004 that cured the rapid heartbeats i was having. i’m 38 years old and have had more frequent pvcs for maybe the past 10 years. all blood tests tests normal. however frequent multifocal pvcs. few hundred per day as recorded on 24hr holter moniter with 6 instances of trigeminy. feel every one and they just feel so unnatural and never stop being worrisome. are multifocal a sign of greater issues to come? there’s so much conflicting information i’m looking for the truth. my EP doesn’t pay much attention to me which is maybe a good thing. but he’s also not very good at explaining anything. i’m terrified of vfib. my girlfriend is an er nurse and sees cardiac arrest everyday. she says it can happen to anyone. is she misinformed? my EP says benign. my GP says i’m fine. frequent pvcs never feel fine. my ejection fraction is low normal 50-55. no other heart issues but these pvcs. also how can gastric issues affect electrical issues caused by rogue locations in the heart? that’s what confuses me too. but more so.. can these lead to vfib. i know they don’t “usually” but.. in cases of just frequent pvcs, can they?
Sorry for all your worries, hearing frightening stories from the ER! Yes, cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, but without an underlying known heart condition, that risk is very very low. Working in a hospital (especially and ER) gives one a very biased view of medical risks, as you see just the bad stuff but don't see the vastly greater number of people out there who don't need to come to the ER! Glad you have an EP doc to help interpret your situation. If you are looking for another opinion for peace of mind, it never hurts to see another EP doc to review things and hopefully come to the same conclusion. Best of luck to you!
THANK YOU. I have this condition - about 20 - 30 a day and dr said not to worry. echocardiogram was perfect and heart monitor show PVC's. This was VERY informative and puts me at ease!
Great video! Do you have one (or on in the pipeline) on premature _atrial_ contractions? I'm interested how this differs mechanically, symptomatically, etc. I have been having PACs for last 4 months or so pretty constantly noticeable. My cardiologist linked me this video with a strong recommendation and it was truly fascinating but I would love to understand how PACs and PVCs are similar and dissimilar and your method of explanation is wonderful and clear.
I feel them less when lying down and more when my heart rate increases (exercise or even just getting up quickly after being still for some time) but otherwise I'm still on the hunt from correlating factors like caffeine etc!
Thanks for the great explanation and animations!
It's a great question! In the video, I explain why PVC beats are weaker than normal, but I don't get into full details. There are actually 3 reasons why PVC beats provide a weaker pulse:
1) The beat is early, with less time for the ventricles to fill (discussed in the video)
2) The sequence is bottom-top instead of top-bottom, so that coordination is messed up (hinted at in the video)
3) The PVC beat doesn't use the usual, specialized electrical tree to get the electrical signal everywhere at once in the ventricles to create a coordinated squeeze, and so within the ventricles themselves there is a second kind of uncoordination (not reviewed in the video)
With Premature Atrial Contractions (PACs), issues #2 and #3 above aren't happening - i.e. there *is* good coordination between top and bottom, and there (usually) *is* use of the full electrical tree and therefore good coordination within the parts of the ventricles. And so, PACs create a better squeeze than PVCs, and usually *can* be felt in the pulse as early beats, although they may still be a bit weaker due to issue #1 above. The beat after the PAC can still be a bit stronger than usual for the same reasons as after a PVC - extra time to fill the ventricles and a stronger squeeze as a result.
Like PVCs, PACs can also have a variety of causes, but often we can't find any obvious trigger or reason. They may come and go with illness, dehydration, stress, alcohol, fatigue, caffeine, some medical conditions, or have no obvious cause. If bothersome enough to warrant treatment, options of medications and catheter ablation are both available, depending on the circumstances. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms. A simple heart monitor can often be helpful to track when PACs are happening and correlate with symptoms and daily events. And sometimes PACs can be a precursor to longer arrhythmias such as atrial tachycardia or atrial fibrillation, which, if they occur, may warrant treatment from a medical perspective (whereas PACs are mostly just annoying and not medically important).
Best of luck to you and thank you for your kind comments!
-Josh
M suffering the same... It's si frustrating.. How r u doing now??? U still get them.?
@@village_life_rk I don't get them as frequently as I did during that period a few years ago. I believe the stress and anxiety of COVID and lockdowns (esp here in Melbourne) played a big part. Going to see a cardiologist and learning how normal and generally harmless they are went a long way towards quelling any anxiety around it, which in turn seems to have helped reduce their frequency/intensity.
There will still be a day here or there (maybe every couple weeks vs multiple times per hour back then) where I feel it, but I just tell myself "this is OK; it's just a feeling" and get on with my day.
I hope it improves for you! It's definitely not comfortable and makes the mind quick to jump to conclusions about what might be going wrong.
U mean you don't feel them anymore?
@@village_life_rk I still get them but far less regularly and far less intensely. What I'm saying is they stayed bad as long as I fixated on them and after accepting them they kinda just stopped. It was a self-fulfilling anxiety loop (at least in _my_ case)
Now I know. I've had these for 15 years and have been on atenolol for at least 10 of them. I've dealt with palpitations that suddenly come in a storm and then go away for weeks, sometimes months. Or I might have a few days or weeks where I can feel them for a second or 3 several times a day. Never could point a finger at any specific trigger because in a number of them there was no ongoing stress or sickness. But then back on April 28th, they came on extremely strongly and after about 10 minutes I had my wife take me to the ER. It took them 5 minutes to conclude onset afib/RVR. 8 hours later they got the rate down to a more stable 120bpm (I was pegging 180bpm for almost 8 hours) and I went home on a blood thinner and cardizem and fell asleep. When I woke, I was back in NSR. Since then, I've had 2 tiny episodes lasting 30 to 60 seconds and of course many palpitations/PVCs that I'm now more aware of. I've had 2 EKGs done at my PCP and at the cardiologist and both were showing NSR. The cardiologist suspects I have been in afib before and it progressed to the point it was an emergency. I have an ECG scheduled on June 15th and we'll go from there. That's the question right, where to go from there. I don't fit the profile - I'm 57, eat clean keto for 30 months, no longer Prediabetic, no longer have GERD, and I'm down to 150 lbs from a high of 195lbs. Put it this way, I can't remember the last time I ate junk food or drank a beer. Maybe PVCs are benign but maybe they aren't. It took 15 years before my 1st afib episode from the first days I remember having palpitations and then getting diagnosed with PVCs. If you have them, get it checked out and get them cured before they progress to something worse.
Our lifestyles are similar and yet here I am with PVCs. No health issues, no heart issues, clean slate per cardiologists. I wish there was a cure for them. Doctors only want to write prescriptions or perform ablations. I’ve tried many supplements to go along with my low carb diet. A few things made them disappear for days and others for 2-3 weeks. But they always come back and those supplements can’t make it go away any more.
They are happening for a reason. Why can’t we figure this out? It seems ridiculous with the amount of people dealing with/suffering from this, that there aren’t tests that can pinpoint a few areas that likely cause this to know what each persons issue is. We can do organ transplants but not test blood to see deficiencies in our electrical system. I just don’t get it.
thank you for this...ive been in ER all night with these doggone things...but at least I understand em now!
Glad to hear you found the video helpful! Sorry for the ER visit, but hopefully you can talk to your doctor to make sure that your heart is ok and discuss treatment options if needed. An EP doc (electrophysiologist) like myself is the specialty to look for with regard to management of PVCs that cause symptoms and/or other problems. Best of luck to you!
Whenever i watch a video on the heart's mechanisms (and I've watched quite a number of them) I always learn something new..Thanks Sir. I just love that "rubber band analogy". It makes my understanding so much clearer.
Dr. Cooper! I can’t thank you enough, though I wish I had seen this back in Dec. 2023 when I took my husband to the ER with irregular heartbeats and all of the symptoms you mentioned at the end of this video. 7 months later my husband has had an ablation and open heart surgery to repair his aortic valve. I am a retired science teacher and have asked many questions (that can be challenging when large amounts of medical information is delivered w/little time to discuss) and in 12 short minutes you cleared up most of my questions about PVCs. He is 2 months post surgery, improving daily, but is having occasional PVCs during re-hab. We meet with the EP, thoracic surgeon & the general cardiologist in the next 2 weeks and hope to get clear answers on how he is progressing, what to expected going forward, and how to address any continuing issues.
Thank you, Kelle
Dec 2023 didn't get here yet
Thank you. It’s a blessing that you explained what my Cardiologist should have. I understand so much more now!
Thank you for explaining this concept so simply. Signed, Nursing Student😊
Halo dr. Cooper, I really helped with ur explanations here, I was the survivor pvc now, it feels annoying when I have this abnormal beats up to 33% in holter monitoring result, and I feel these symptoms gradually upon me, and ur explanation make me understood of what's going on me n my pvc. Thanks a lot sir, very awesome lecturer delivered :))
I was diagnosed with PCV's a couple of years ago. I was referred to an electrophysiologist that prescribed a beta blocker and would not do an ablation procedure. At that time I was having 16000 PVC's daily. The beta blocker was "kicking my butt." I had no energy, was tired all the time. Finally, I saw my family doctor and under his advice. I took the beta blocker every other day for a week and then stopped. Once you are tagged by a cardiologist consultant, you are seen every year. Just saw mine, and now I am at 17,500 per day. I am scheduled to see an electrophysiologist later this month. This is not the same once I saw a couple of years ago. I'm hoping to get the ablation procedure done and not prolong my PVC's by medication. The funny thing is that I experience no symptoms of PVC's as best as I can tell. I am now on a beta blocker and I am tolerating it very well. Has it slowed down my PVC's? I have no idea.
This is FANTASTIC information. Going thru this right now. And I can tell you, it knocks the wind out of me! As I lay here with my Holter monitor on my chest. First day and the PVC'S are REALLY kicking my butt. Had a SVT Alblation done 7 months ago And I've been great ever since. Before I was waking up to 222 heart beats per minute scared the hell out of me. If I have enough PVC'S during this time. I will definitely go for the other Alblation. If I'm elected for it. I have a incredible Cardiologist here in Florida. Thank you again for the great information.
Thank you so much for explaining this! None of the ER doctors I've seen over the last year or even my doctor who did my SVT ablation didn't explain it to me this well! They all just told me it's normal and not dangerous. Its given me a ton of anxiety because I kept telling them its a skipped beat and not an early beat but finally I understand why it feels like a skipped beat. You also explained why I cough sometimes when it happens which I never even really thought about before.
This video was presented in a way that helped me to understand my condition. March 28 2019 I had a cardiac arrest. I have an ICD now and I am taking sotalol. It definitely helps with the PVC's. Sometimes it lets one slip by and I can definitely feel it. I hate PVC's. The cardiologist can't do an oblation because the bad impulse is all over my heart, not centered in a specific location. They have taken real good care of me and I'm thankful. I Hope other people who are kinda going through the same thing get to see your video too because it explains things in a way that's easy to understand. Again, Thanks!
I swear you are the only doctor that explained my problem out of probably 20 who I actually visited to explain my problem. Thank You SOOOO MUCH🙏🏽
You’ve calmed my nerves by watching this. Thank you so much for explaining PVC episodes.
Thank you Dr. Cooper for making this video. It simplifies the subject and makes it much easier to understand. Very much appreciated!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You put my mind at ease. I've been getting them for a little while now. But it got really bad. I owned rental property and take care of and 88 year old mother. So I'm under a lot of stress . Plus a Tension Headache Doctor gave me NORTRIPTYLINE 20mg. And I was fine with it. Until he raised the med to 25mg. That's when I started to feel these PVC's. I went to Urgent Care and sure enough it should in the EKG. Going to see a Cardiologist tomorrow.
See what she has to say. But thank you again for these easy to understand PVCs Symptoms.
GOD BLESS Dr. Cooper!
My pleasure! Thanks so much for the kind words and I'm so glad my little video was helpful to you. Best of luck seeing your cardiologist and coming up with a symptom management strategy!
Magnesium ..400 to 600 mg at bedtime or until you have digestive symptoms of too much magnesium. For me...it was a MAJOR game changing inprovement.
Was in the ER last night. Heart racing, thumping and my pulse felt like I was missing beats. Feeling my pulse in my wrist felt like, 2 beats, skip, 3 beats, skip, 5 beats, skip, and repeat. Went to ER and they confirmed PVC and also found my electrolytes were very low. Gave me potassium and magnesium and today my chest feels better. First night in a while i had a good sleep.
Best video on pvcs I have ever seen
Thanks so much for watching and for your very kind feedback!
I just learned I have ventricular bigeminy. This is good news because now I know why I have been tired all the time for years. I can get treatment
Hi, Dr. Cooper. Loved this video. I’ve been struggling with PVCs for several years now, but I have only somewhat recently (within the past year) been growing increasingly anxious about them. I could really use some advice for more specific questions about the conditions of my pvcs. I’ve always been an anxious person, so I’m sure that’s a major contributing factor, but pvcs will happen to me even when I’m not anxious. (Which I also heard was normal.) What scares me the most about these beats, is how many times they occur in a row sometimes. One day, I may have one big, uncomfortable pvc, and then the next day I could have anywhere from 2-6 (maybe more) within a single minute. (And both could happen multiple times a day.) When this happens, I get very alarmed, and worry that it may not stop. I try things to calm it down, and they always eventually do stop, but it might take 5-10 minutes before they finally quit. My biggest question that I would love to ask is, are they supposed to be so uncomfortable, or even painful? It’s just very scary when I think they’re not stopping. But other times it just happens once, maybe twice (within an episode.) I sometimes take medication, but I’m starting to wonder if I should be increasing the dose. Should I be worried about how many times they noticeably happen, or how painful they are? Thank you.
Did your pvc got diagnosed with holter monitor? My ones yes, i also get sometimes a run of pvc like 3 in one go and Im really scared by them, i don't mind the odd one once or twice a day but the two or three consecutives ones are worry some. I also get PVC with PAC. i tried everything to cure them completely but still get them. Im 65 and had them since my twenties.
@@agenziacentrale4383 I did wear a monitor for five days. What I didn’t like about that was my PVCs weren’t very active during those days so I feel like the monitor didn’t pick up very much. I’m 20 and I also get 3 or sometimes even more in one go, and it scares me too. My biggest fear is that they won’t stop. But they always eventually do. I’ve tried a lot of things to cure them too, but I still get them. I’m just trying to figure out what triggers them. Because they seem to choose their days of when they want to be active or not.
The purpose of this video was largely to educate people about PVCs to try to make them less scary. Sometimes by understanding why we feel them, it reduces the fear. The feeling of pain/discomfort does not mean that they are dangerous. If they bother you enough to consider treatment, consider talking to an EP doc about options. If they come only rarely, that can be a difficult situation for catheter ablation to work (they need to happen frequently enough during a procedure to pinpoint the location). But maybe a medication can be helpful to suppress them, such as flecainide, if that is appropriate for you. Best of luck to you.
@@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917 Thank you for the advice! I have taken action and met with a cardiologist a few times. I’ve done an EKG, worn a five-day monitor, and had an echocardiogram. The results of the monitor caught my pvcs, and my echo came back normal. So they told me it was nothing to worry about. I just can’t stand how uncomfortable they are sometimes, and when several pvcs happen close together. I’m trying to get it under control, or at least find the possible cause, but that is proving to be more difficult than I thought. Thank you again for taking the time to reply to my last comment!
@@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917how often? Mine happen all day ..sometimes in clusters so it back to back. I had a holter on for 3 days and the cardiologists said it was under a certain number so it wasnt serious but it seems serious to me and scary
THANK YOU ! THANK YOU ! THANK YOU ! Very informative and easy to understand.........Now, wish they would stop after 3 months 24/7 ! Having it checked out. I FEEL EVERY ONE OF THEM !!!!!! Hard to ignore and make me tired . Thank you, again .
My son has been recently diagnosed with this and also a more serious condition. I think the plan is to do both ablations at the same time. Thank you so much for this info. I am trying to learn as much as I can about both procedures. I learned so much from this video! Thanks again
Thanks for the comments. I hope all goes well with the ablation(s). There is nothing more stressful than a child with a medical problem of any sort. Best of luck to you and to him.
Such an excellent video. So appreciated.
Very helpful. I've had a few of these over the past several months. Usually take a few deep breaths, take a gulp of water or two and they go away. Last night, had them for about an hour before the wife and I headed to the ER. I was released, they did bloodwork, X-Ray and said all my levels looked fine. I'm following up with a Cardiologist tomorrow. I've had anxiety on and off for a few years, I probably drink a little more wine than I should and keep myself in very good physical shape. From the research I've done, these appear pretty common but it is, for lack of a better term, disheartening to "feel" your own heartbeat and that extra beat.
Thanks for sharing your story! Yes, PVCs can feel very scary, and yet are usually benign and cause no harm whatsoever. Heck, they scare me when I feel them and I'm the expert! :) I have a friend who drops down and does some push-ups to get his heart rate up when he feels PVCs and that seems to suppress them at that time. Over the counter magnesium supplement can often help lessen PVC symptoms in some patients. You can always talk to an EP doc if PVCs bother you frequently enough to consider treatment options. Best of luck!
Hello and thank you so much for your video! I would be grateful to ask you about overtraining and PVCs. I was a healthy 58 year old woman who has been an endurance athlete for 45 years. Recently, after an endurance event (20 mile uphill hike) I felt exhausted. After 2 days of rest I developed PVCs (confirmed in hospital 5 days later). I've been getting 15-20 PVCs per minute overnight and in the morning, but when I go out for a run or do strength training they disappear for the rest of the day. It's as if exercise resets my heart rhythm back to normal.
I am wondering whether I should be pushing my heart in this way as a sort of cardioversion when I may already be overtrained. @@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917
I have them all throughout the day, but i have them the worst at night, and they go on constantly for up to the 2 hours or so it takes for me to fall asleep, I of course feel them horribly, especially laying on my left side. This video was very informative, I liked knowing why I feel like I need to bear down or cough, that was interesting. Thankyou.
Excellent presentation 👏 👏👏 I suffer from both PVC and A-fib. It's hell 😩
Sorry to hear. Both are very treatable. Hope you have an EP doc who is helping you 🙏
Like Chris, foods, along with dyes, MSG, gluten and even heat causes PVCs. Thank you for explaining this in a way we can understand.
Great explanation on PVCs. It gives lots of reassurance about the condition. Thank you.
Had hernia surgery, that’s how they found my pvcs, dr made me wear heart monitor. I threw 19 thousand in 24 hours. Cardiologist put me on metoprolol success er 50 mg. Blood pressure perfect and pulse is a round 60 resting.. going for echocardiogram and stress test in a week. I am active walk about 20, ooo steps a day. Wish me luck.
Thank you for the best video ever. Such a great explanation. I’ve suffered with these my entire life. Although I’m on a beta blocker, I still get breakthrough extra beats that can go on for days, then they cycle out. They always ruin my quality of life, as they’re hard to ignore.
That was very helpful, thank you. I find that Co Q 10 suppliment sometimes helps diminish a good share of PVCs for me.
How much coq10 do you take?
PVC and anxiety come together not sure which one first for me, but I got all results from heart ct scan - heat monitors- echocardiogram . More time you wait for all appointments and the symptoms got more bad because of the anxiety ! You more worried and stressed, finally almost 2 months of waiting went the ER 2 times and went for Docter too many times I was so done 😩 so now I’m on new medication hope it help ! Feels for everyone who in this situations hang in there!
Thank you for this crystal clear explanation of PVCs.
Dr. Cooper thank you so much for this very simple but extremely imformative video. Now I understand what is happening to my heart, I was diagnosed with PVC, thank you so much.
The best explanatory video ever watched
Wow, that's quite an endorsement! Thank you so much and I'm thrilled you found it helpful!
Outstanding video. I have continual PVCs they haven't let up for two weeks. I have this in addition to moderate mitral valve prolapse. All my cardiologist said is that they are pvcs. I'm not as laissez fair as he is. For me it leads to sudden onset of severe palpitations that I think will end up killing me by having an erotic rupture of sorts, hopefully very quickly so I don't suffer. I believe it will weaken my heart overtime and lead too heart failure and that'll be too late to do much of anything. I'm not able to walk around due to a leg problem so my heart is weak so I'm destined to have a very unpleasant death and it's a shame my medical doctor doesn't seem to be terribly helpful. I think most are this way unfortunately.
I have trigemny PVCs and this explained so well. Tysm
I havefew episodes of Bigeminy too
My pleasure. If you have PVCs in trigeminy and bigeminy all the time, it might be reasonable to have periodic checkups with your doc to ensure all is well (trigeminy all the time = 33% PVCs). Best of luck to you, and I'm glad the video was helpful!
That was an excellent video. Thank you for the excellent graphic and information. Very understandable.