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Are PACs (premature Atrial Contractions) And PVCs (premature Ventricular Contractions)related To MVP (mitral Valve Prolapse)?

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Posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Question: Hi Dr, I had some queries which I need advise. I started feeling skipped heartbeat one year ago. Got a holter n showed 461 skipped beats. Otherwise normal. No treatment then . Over the year it come n go. 2 months ago came full vengeance , wore a holter showed 385 skipped beats, this time showed T wave low flat at one interval. ST normal. Went for a echo. Heart normal but showed mild regurgitation. Otherwise structure normal. Saw 3 doctors and none were too concerned. Now my questions is, I might not even know I got mild regurgitation if I didn have echo. I wouldn have echo if I XXXXXXX felt the skipped beats. Are pacs pvcs related to MVP? As I research some say yes some no some maybe? If your answers are yes n related, then I supposed the skipped beats will be constant. But there were intervals that none were there or even days when there is only a few felt ? Initially it started off with few huge "thumps" in my chest especially after I had my meals . Letting a burp out can ease a little but it comes back shortly. Tried eating small meals, taking care of digestion , took medication etc. Are they related? Since then I started notice it became more ? How does anticipating the beat causes more beats? I'm suffering from anxiety disorder for 7 years, which adrenaline accumulate in the bloodstream I know, but can they be constantly there? How long do they take to "wash out " from the blood stream? Y does the adrenal gland produced adrenaline non stop for so long? Doesn't it get tired or "dry out" ? What can we do to clear the adrenaline in the bloodstream after so long of suffering from anxiety disorder. I done a lot research n googling apparently , there was sort of "no cure" n some ppl go on suffering that for many years. ? I can't find a trigger for that, food drinks, pattern , etc etc etc.. There is nothing that I can find that trigger them! The only closest I can find is after meals it seemed more obvious. But of cos it can happen empty stomach . I really wanna get rid of this zapping feeling in my chest. Pls advise
doctor
Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (2 hours later)
Brief Answer: Following answers to your queries... Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX Thank you for sharing your concern with HCM. - Yes, PACS (premature atrial contractions) and PVCS (premature ventricular contractions) are related to MVP (mitral valve prolapse). Usually, MVP is associated with palpitations and extrasystoles (PACS and PVCS). They are not constant, but with intervals as you already are experiencing depending on the triggering factors. - One of the triggering factor is gastritis/GERD (stomach problems), which are often associated with bloating. Bloated stomach and intestines raise the diaphragm, which is putting pressure to the heart and triggering arrhythmia (pacs, pvcs). - Stress and stomach problems cause arrhythmia, arrhythmia is causing more stress; a vicious circle takes place (extra beat inducing extra beats). - Adrenalin takes 3 minutes to wash off; however, at your case, you are having anxiety/stress, so, more signals are given for the adrenalin to be produced continuously. That's why, the more you get stress, the more adrenalin is produced and secreted, the more it stays in the blood stream. - As long as the adrenal gland is normally functioning, the signals it will get will end up producing adrenalin continuously. - It is very XXXXXXX to stop the natural production of adrenalin from the adrenal glands. This is a helpful hormone necessary to face stress situations. The main goal is to find out what is triggering stress/anxiety, and reverse it; consequently, the adrenal gland won't produce and secrete adrenalin so frequently. At the end, improving gastric problems will help improve arrhythmia problems too. All the best! Dr.Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (13 hours later)
Thks for ur follow up reply. If pacs pvcs were to be caused by MVP, and MVP fortunately were mild and XXXXXXX required treatment yet, meaning there is nothing I can do to get rid of the annoying and terrifying skipped heartbeats? Yes when I'm gassy or bloated I felt them more often. But I can Oso feel them when I'm empty stomach in the morning . I drive taking anatacid etc. The pvcs pacs are less felt, the "thumps" are not so forceful . But I can still feel the "twitches" in it. I wil start to burp shortly after beginning a few mouthful of my meals. Is the gas irritating the nerve ? Potassium , magnesium had helped some ppl? Can I try them? I'm currently on coenzyme prescribe by my doctor. Which I felt it does improved a little . But when I get stress or anxious they came every few minutes. When I lay back or lay down, they were the least felt . I XXXXXXX feel then much when my gut is relaxing . Can the heart muscle twitch because I'm always have a tight upper abdomen or chest? This a problem which I believe a lot ppl has from wat I googled. And I belief is equally frustrating for drs to find a medicine jux like simple flu . I'm determine to know more n find a trigger . The 20 twitches I felt per day is destroying my quality of mood n life as it send me to a state of worry n panic immediately . Jux to add on , I understand that pacs pvcs are mostly benign in a structural normal heart. Along With MVP regurgition, is it stil consider benign? Is MVP consider under structurally normal Part of the heart in the case where all other sections were clear normal ? Will heart attack increases with this combination?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (14 hours later)
Brief Answer: Additional therapy is advised.... Detailed Answer: Hi again XXXXXXX Having MVP is not considered a health problems, but it is a normal ultrasound finding, which increases the chances to get extra systoles (as you are currently experiencing). It is considered benign and under structurally normal part of the heart. Once again, if the problems with stomach acidity and distension are reversed, you'd feel the extra-heart beats less and feel better too. I suggest to discuss with your physician to add: - antacids and PPI (proton-pump inhibitors) to your stomach complains - beta-blockers, magnesium and potassium to improve the symptoms. If magnesium and potassium are used, I strongly suggest to regularly monitor their levels in the blood. The heart muscle has its normal anatomical position, and is not possible to get twitched. All the best! Dr.Benard
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Benard Shehu

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 2257 Questions

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Are PACs (premature Atrial Contractions) And PVCs (premature Ventricular Contractions)related To MVP (mitral Valve Prolapse)?

Brief Answer: Following answers to your queries... Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX Thank you for sharing your concern with HCM. - Yes, PACS (premature atrial contractions) and PVCS (premature ventricular contractions) are related to MVP (mitral valve prolapse). Usually, MVP is associated with palpitations and extrasystoles (PACS and PVCS). They are not constant, but with intervals as you already are experiencing depending on the triggering factors. - One of the triggering factor is gastritis/GERD (stomach problems), which are often associated with bloating. Bloated stomach and intestines raise the diaphragm, which is putting pressure to the heart and triggering arrhythmia (pacs, pvcs). - Stress and stomach problems cause arrhythmia, arrhythmia is causing more stress; a vicious circle takes place (extra beat inducing extra beats). - Adrenalin takes 3 minutes to wash off; however, at your case, you are having anxiety/stress, so, more signals are given for the adrenalin to be produced continuously. That's why, the more you get stress, the more adrenalin is produced and secreted, the more it stays in the blood stream. - As long as the adrenal gland is normally functioning, the signals it will get will end up producing adrenalin continuously. - It is very XXXXXXX to stop the natural production of adrenalin from the adrenal glands. This is a helpful hormone necessary to face stress situations. The main goal is to find out what is triggering stress/anxiety, and reverse it; consequently, the adrenal gland won't produce and secrete adrenalin so frequently. At the end, improving gastric problems will help improve arrhythmia problems too. All the best! Dr.Benard