HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

PVCs and Vitamins/ Minerals

Support Forums
>
Heart & Cardiovascular Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/26/2012 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there:

I am new to the board. First a little about my issues. I am a 39 year old male, slightly overweight (but losing it now). No family history of heart disease.

about 2 months ago I started getting PVCs. I was drinking 5-6 cups of coffee a day at the time. So I stopped that. I also started taking magnesium oxide 500mg a day, that really seemed to help. I am a very bad eater. No vegetables, no whole grains, little fruit. I got off the magnesium though because of diarrhea.

Around the same time I started getting really bad heartburn. I was popping 8 Tums a day for a few days and my PVCs came back. Normally after eating or after working out. Around the same time, I started getting chest tightness and trouble breathing daily. This would go away if I had a bath, belched or lay down on my left side.

I went to the doctor who gave me a PPI for GERD, and didnt seem concerned with the PVCs. Most of my PVCs come when I have extreme stomach gas that also feels like its in my chest.

about a week later I took myself to ER after a bad anxiety attack. I thought I was having a heart attack. All checked out fine though, 2 EKGs, 2 blood tests and a chest x-ray later, the doctor said the heart was fine. PVCs were normal he said, and probably attributed to digestive problems.

I continued getting the PVCs until one day I started taking a multivitamin. That reduced their frequency. I also started eating whole grains and veggies more often.

The only day where I had a bad bout of PVCs was when I bought a bottle of fast absorption Magnesium Citrate. I had one pill and 30 minutes later, had bad PVCs for the rest of the night. They finally went away when I took a Tums (calcium supplement).

Fast forward to today. I am still getting weird chest pains after eating, lots of gas. I get a couple PVCs when I first lie down at night, which still freaks me out, or sometimes when I first sit down.

It seems I have an imbalance of vitamins/minerals in my system, could this be the cause of the PVCs? I just started a calcium/magnesium/D3 supplement as well as my multi-vitamin, as I have been experiencing other weird sensations, like muscle twitches in my arms, tingling hands, and a twitching left eye lid this whole time.

I am seeing the doctor again on Monday and want him to test my blood for anything unusual. Has anyone experienced anything similar?
Posted 5/26/2012 7:54 PM (GMT 0)

Heart palpitations can be caused by anxiety, stress, fear and many other things.

Reducing stress and anxiety can help lessen your heart palpitations. Try breathing exercises or deep relaxation (a step-by-step process of tensing and then relaxing every muscle group in your body) at the time of your heartbeat sensations. Also, consider practicing yoga or tai chi on a regular basis to reduce the frequency of your palpitations.

From what I have read, there does not appear to be a scientific study or accepted medical wisdom to indicate that the heart palpitations felt by certain patients comes from GERD or the gas caused by the disease. However, there is a potential for the two to occur at the same time. The vagus nerve, which plays a role in regulating the heart rhythm, sends information to the brain about the esophagus as well as controls swallowing. There is a potential for to mix-up in  the information sent to the brain when the gastric acid stimulates the vagus nerve.

Perhaps you need to be seen by a GI specialist to have an endoscopy to evaluate your GERD.  Also we have a great forum on GERD so do feel welcome to join in and post your questions in that forum too.

I am glad you found us and I hope you stick with HealingWell.  We love new members.

Kindly,

Kitt



 

Posted 5/26/2012 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
I have crohns and also experience PVC's, especially when my crohns is flaring. My cardiologist advised me that my PVC's are due to my GI issues because that is stimulating the vagus nerve. So, I wonder if your GI issues may be doing the same. I would ask your cardiologist to confirm what the E.R. Dr. told you.

Take care! 

Post Edited (pmedic) : 5/26/2012 3:01:07 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/26/2012 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
It seems I have an imbalance of vitamins/minerals in my system, could this be a cause of the PVCs?
Posted 5/26/2012 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
A deficiency in  Magnesium has been linked to conditions such as irregular heart beat, however, I would ask your Dr. to run lab work to see if you truly are having electrolyte values out of the norm. 

I would caution you to be sure the vitamins and minerals you choose to take are safe for you.  Remember each person's body is different. 

Just my 2 cents worth.

Kitt  

Posted 5/30/2012 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Went to the doctor and he thinks I have a large hiatus hernia. Which would make sense. I seem to have positional PVCs. Meaning I usually only get them lying down, or when I am in a recliner. If I sit up straight or stand, I have them far less. Also, I cant sit down at all for about an hour after eating or I feel terrible.
Posted 5/31/2012 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Seabass,

What did the Dr. recommended for you hernia ?

Kitt

Posted 8/29/2012 12:38 PM (GMT 0)
I have severe PVC's and they are ALWAYS worse after eating a big meal, stomach gas, etc.  If I can force myself to belch up alot of that gas, the PVC's improve.  I also find relief in lying, standing or sitting in certain positions.  If I slouch over and my stomach/esophagus are seeming to push against my heart, the PVC's get much worse.  If I stand up straight and relieve that pressure, the PVC's improve.  So I personally am a firm believer that PVC's are exascerbated by indigestion, GERD, whatever you want to call it.  Not to mention what stress can do to them.  I went on vacation to Maine with 7 girlfriends (like sisters) who I've known for 40 years and never had one PVC (that I noticed anyway).  After returning, I started having them again and I notice they increase with any stessful situation like something at work or with family.   The only thing I worrry about is that I read somewhere that long-term PVC's can lead to stroke or heart attack...is that true and how do you prevent that eventuality?
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply