Are you suffering from PVC's or an ectopic heartbeat?

Have you ever felt like your heart skipped a beat? Or perhaps that your heart actually beat an extra beat? Whether it was an isolated incident or has become a regular occurrence, PVC's (premature ventricular contractions -- also know as ventricular premature beat (VPB), ectopic heartbeat, or extrasystole) can be extremely unsettling and downright scary for those who suffer from them.

The good news is that PVC's are almost always harmless. Nevertheless they tend to feel dangerous to those who have them and it can be hard to cope with the cycle of fear, which leads to stress and anxiety, which often then leads to more PVC's.

So while this group may not be a cure for PVC's, I hope that it will be a useful tool for educating each other and learning to cope with this sometimes extremely uncomfortable heart arrythmia.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Panic and Anxiety and How They're Related to PVC's

If you're prone to anxiety and/or panic, like I am, then having PVC's can make you feel like you're caught in a vicious cycle.

My PVC's are not caused only by anxiety and stress, but they are certainly aggravated by both. If I get stressed, I get more PVC's. When I get more PVC's, I get anxious and panicky, which results in even more PVC's and then life is just miserable!

It's a vicious cycle!

I posted a couple of links to the right for "The Linden Method," which I decided to try and highly recommend to anyone who has ever experienced anxiety and/or panic, regardless of whether or not they suffer from PVC's. It has been very effective for me and although it's not enough to cure my PVC's, it has made living with them more manageable.

Feel free to submit and questions or comments on the topic!
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