In my research on premature ventricular contractions (PVC) I found the following article at this web site:
Causes of premature ventricular contractionshttp://www.medicinenet.com/premature_ventricular_contractions/page2.htm
What causes premature ventricular contractions?
There are many causes of premature ventricular contractions, which include:
- heart attack; (I did not have a heart attack)
- high blood pressure; (I do not have high blood pressure)
- cardiomyopathy, including congestive heart failure; (Did not have congestive heart failure)
- disease of heart valves such as mitral valve prolapse; (Heart Valves are good)
- hypokalemia (low blood levels of potassium), and hypomagnesemia (low blood levels of magnesium), hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia can occur, for example, in patients taking diuretics (water pills); (This I need to check)
- hypoxia (low amounts of oxygen in the blood), for example, hypoxia occurs with lung diseases such as emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); (This should not be a problem)
- medications such as digoxin (Lanoxin), aminophylline (Phyllocontin, Truphylline), tricyclic antidepressants, and ephedrine containing, decongestants; (Need to check all the medications I am taking)
- excessive intake of alcohol; (Not an issue)
- excess caffeine intake; (Have been off caffeine since November)
- stimulant drug use such as cocaine, and amphetamines; (Not an issue)
- myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) and cardiac contusion (heart muscle injury), and (This may be an issue, because of all the work on my heart - 5 bypasses)
- premature ventricular contractions also occur in healthy individuals without heart diseases.(This looks like the problem just happens!)
So, what are my possible issues?
hypokalemia (low blood levels of potassium), and hypomagnesemia (low blood levels of magnesium), hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia can occur, for example, in patients taking diuretics (water pills); (This I need to check)
medications such as digoxin (Lanoxin), aminophylline (Phyllocontin, Truphylline), tricyclic antidepressants, and ephedrine containing, decongestants; (Need to check all the medications I am taking)
myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) and cardiac contusion (heart muscle injury), and (This may be an issue, because of all the work on my heart - 5 bypasses)
premature ventricular contractions also occur in healthy individuals without heart diseases.(This looks like the problem just happens!)
Again very good Jim - you are becoming more and more like your sister - HAAHAHAHAHA!!! You never knew you would become part of the medical community - now you have entered the dark and insane side of life - HAHAHA!!!
ReplyDeleteYes in many medical conditions, physicians will give the diagnosis of idiopathic - meaning they have no idea why the medical condition occurred. This may be true in your case. But, what is still important is to maintain a sound and healthy foundation with your body so not to become susceptible to situations from occurring that could cause the heart to become irritable, such as a low potassium, low magnesium, etc. Lung disease, such as, a long history of asthma, which you have had could also throw
2 cents into the fire and cause the irritability of the heart. The irregularity of your sleep pattern could cause your heart to have occasional periods of irritabiltiy.
Many people have PVC's and will never know it. But, with the big surgery that you just had, you tend to become overanalytical with any abnormalities so you will not have any post op complications from such a major surgery.
Take Care - love ya - Nurse Ratched