How to manage ectopic beats after cardio?
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I am 39 years old, 5 feet 6.1 inches, and 185 pounds, well built, and for three years I have had extrasystoles. A Holter monitor, done one year ago, showed one percent of ectopic beats, and several times I have gone to the doctor, and they told me I have nothing to worry about, and there is nothing serious with my condition.
But I have noticed that when I go running or do heavier cycling with hills, some 20 hours after those cardio exercises, I get a strange feeling in my chest, ectopic beats get from the usual one to two a day, to five to 10 for the day, and I am worried about exercising and starting to gain weight.
It does not happen when I do heavy exercises, like gathering wood, or moving heavy stuff around. But this strange feeling happens every time the day after cardio. I take Nebilet for my pulse, once a day. I do not feel dizzy during exercise or like I have no strength; I feel normal, and with running, I feel I can do more.
Please help.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern.
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are usually benign, and everybody has them over 24 hours. With exercise, PVCs can increase or decrease. Medications such as beta blockers are used to control them, and if needed, other groups of medications, such as calcium channel blockers, can also be used.
It is very good that your Holter monitoring was done and that the PVC burden is only one percent. A burden of more than 15 percent is considered significant, and it is treated more aggressively with medications and sometimes with procedures such as invasive ablations.
It is important to know the triggers that can increase PVCs and cause discomfort, and these should therefore be avoided. These include nicotine, caffeine use, alcohol consumption, energy drinks, and anxiety. Certain hormonal disorders and electrolyte imbalances can also increase the burden and should therefore be ruled out. An echocardiogram is also necessary to rule out structural heart issues, and I assume this has been done.
If you are now feeling an increase in PVC burden, I would recommend getting an exercise treadmill test or Holter monitoring done in order to accurately quantify the PVCs and optimize treatment as needed.
I hope this helps.
Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.
Thank you.
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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