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Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
Recently diagnosed with PVCs and I’m getting really frustrated and scared at the same time. Taking 10mg propranolol twice per day which does help cut down the intensity. But I’ve also noticed with most PVCs I’m also feeling the flutters in my upper abdomen as well as my throat. I’m going to see my doctor in a couple of weeks but was wondering if anyone else has had the same expression of symptoms. Thanks a bunch!!
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Probably not. But some of the same things that cause reflux also trigger palpitations. (e.g. caffeine, chocolate, alcohol) . Harvard Health education has a good article called "Skipping a Beat--the surprise of Heart Palptations".
Problems with the esophagus, including GERD, can trigger some palpitations. HOWEVER, while you can do whatever you want with drugs - and, yes , PPIs are over the counter and have long been considered safe - I am adamantly against them. In fact, my cardiologist - an arrhythmia expert - also agrees with me. PPIs were hawked as preventing esophageal cancer ( now some researchers think they are the reason esophageal cancer rates are rising, not falling) and can cause arrhythmia because of their impact on magnesium. PPIs raise the risk of serious kidney disease, B12 deficiency, heart attack and possibly dementia and a myriad of other problems that are not immediately evident. Recently, they were found to increase dangers of torsades de pointes,a specific form of ventricular tachycardia in patients with a long QT interval, that can cause sudden death. You can always lose weight, eliminate processed foods and try other approaches or, sure, take the PPIs. But to use them to somehow be the answer to palpitations is not something I would personally do.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/heartburn-drugs-proton-pump-inhibitors-ppi-risks-prilosec-nexium-prevacid/
No, esophageal issues can be triggers of arrhythmia - of course, not in everyone. .In some people, acid reflux triggers exaggerated firing of the esophageal-cardiac reflex, causing palpitations and sometimes may be linked to atrial fibrillation. https://academic.oup.com/europace/article/19/1/16/2952312
I stand partially corrected. This article is from 2017 and it says a
potential association (so not proven) between acid reflux and atrial fibrillation only.
Interestingly, for a long time before being properly diagnosed I thought the weird heart fluttering sensations like a hummingbird in my chest were just part of my acid reflux! Well, once on the metoprolol (actually the first drug was bisoprolol), the flutters stopped.
Nice read. I just want to stay on top of this and you guys are giving Me some great advice. My chest pain included is on both side. Not that the left and almost feels reproducible so I’m not worrying to much of it. Very interesting about the arrhythmias. I am trying to eliminate caffeine for a start to see if it helps.
Gaviscon is pretty safe. Liquid form works better for some people. I use it. I'm thin, avoid all my triggers for reflux and still have it. Ppis and proton pump inhibitors cause itching and rashes for me (just as well).
Years ago I had terrible PVC runs. What cured them (proven on before and after Holter monitors) was Hawthorn 3x a day. Now that I am 85, with afib, some PCVs have returned, but no long runs of 30 or so. Care must be taken adding Hawthorn to your diet because it can act as a beta blocker and slow your heart-you have to slowly try it out. It fits well with my calcium channel blocker, Diltiazem, but I began it very slowly.
You need to check with your doctor and pharmacist about drug interactions. I was having runs of PVCs - back then in the 90s, doctors didn't give drugs for this-just said it was okay. I began taking Hawthorn, 3 times a day. It completely got rid of all PVCs, proven by a second Holter monitor test, in which the first had said I had "many." I was free of them until 10 years later, 81 years old and got afib. But I still use Hawthorn-accepted by my cardiologists along with other medications (Diltiazem, Dofetilide, Warfarin.) Hawthorn is a general heart strengthener but you do have to take care with drug interactions, largely by beginning slowly to introduce it.
Mine started during the holidays this past year. I’ve had several tests ending with heart cath. I had to have a stent. Wow surprised! Not sure if my PVCS are related but they are just as you described and have started up again the past few weeks. Mine seem to be worse when I’m eating. Is that weird?