Archive for March, 2019

Having established that PVC is common in athletes due to enlarged heart & over stimulation on the sympathetic nervous system and adrenaline pathways I discussed some lifestyle changes in the prior post.

There is also a very effective Chinese Herbal medicine Shen Song Yang Xin

So if your potassium & electrolytes are OK this may be the next thing to try – I’m going to get some off ebay.

Research findings:

Compared with placebo or mexiletine, SSYX capsules have significant therapeutic efficacy in reducing PVCs numbers and alleviate PVCs-related symptoms

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21362312

Chinese Medicine Shensongyangxin Is Effective for Patients with Bradycardia: Results of a Randomized, Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Multicenter Trial

https://www.researchgate.net/deref/http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1155%2F2014%2F605714

Shensong Yangxin capsule reduces atrial fibrillation susceptibility by inhibiting atrial fibrosis in rats with post-myocardial infarction heart failure

https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S182834

There is also a metastudy with 1896 patients

EFFECTS OF SHEN SONG YANG XIN CAPSULE FOR TREATMENT OF CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/hrt.2010.208967.331

Compared with the current anti-arrhythmic medicine, Shen Song Yang Xin Capsule is no worse than the current anti-arrhythmic medicine, lower in the rate of inducing cardiac arrhythmia, and there is no significant difference between Shen Song Yang Xin Capsule and the current anti-arrhythmic medicine in inducing of gastrointestinal adverse reaction. For the restrictions of the quality of the studies, the evaluation of anti-arrhythmic effects look forward to more high-quality RCT to further evaluation

https://heart.bmj.com/content/96/Suppl_3/A103.1

OK thats great a simple herbal thats backed up with solid medical research.

Keep in mind that you may want to get a proper medical cardiac evaluation depending upon your age and general health. PVCs are usually minor & quite normal but may also be a symptom of heart disease. Once you have done that – if there is no heart disease you can go onto a herbal regimen.

PVCs are an annoyance & discomfort. Its a bit like having a twitch or an itch – if you can get rid of it you will want to – right?

OK but Shensongyangxin is not the only Chinese Herbal that works – there are three others.

Fuyun

https://www.longdom.org/open-access/observation-study-of-antiarrhythmic-effect-of-fuyun-a-multiherb-prescription-for-ventricular-arrhythmias-in-isolated-rat-hearts-jpr-1000113.pdf

Wenxin Keli

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/380e/7a97c8bc31dc3abb73633914d4a1f17eb6ce.pdf

Zhigancao

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2014.12.008

TCM is complicated and of course the herbal treatments can be combined with acupuncture & meridian theory

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16159566

There is also the Vagus Nerve which is more often than not involved with this condition.

Using the Gall Bladder Divergent Channel to Calm an Irritated Vagus Nerve

https://medium.com/@jancovorstermyafibheart/10-ectopic-heartbeat-vagus-nerve-palpitations-tips-for-you-b8b2acd4dbbe

OK chat to your doctor, if you are over 40 get a cardiac checkup, treadmill, carotid, the works to make sure you are all good. If you are its most likely Vagus & adrenaline related so make the lifestyle changes, Take the herbals & see a TCM specialist.

PVCs are extra heart beats. I just found out I have it.

I will explain. I just got on a clinical trial for a triglyceride drug. Basically I get $4500 for a one time administration of the drug & 3 months of weekly blood tests and check up.

OK so during the 3 days inpatient I got the most thorough physical. There were no exercise stress tests but there was total blood paneling multiple times per day. Urinalysis many times etc.

3 weeks prior to the study I had a real bad heat stroke at work – nearly A&E material and I had ice on me until 1am then still felt bad for 2 days. A week later i stupidly drank 8 cups of green tea over a weekend forgetting that is is a diuretic. This really messed me up & i pissed & drank water continuously for 3 days while still struggling with the heat stroke recovery.

This in turn must have pissed all of my potassium out, which elevated my blood pressure & triggered PVC’s.

PVC’s are benign but unpleasant. I have mistaken it for onset sleep apnea for years. Its not its heart flutter although sleep apnea can cause it as can excessive sympathetic stimulation and adrenaline.

1. Can you die of it? No its benign usually.

2. Can it be a symptom of heart disease? Yes but it usually is not.

3. Is it related to enlarged athletes heart? Absolutely that can contribute to PVC’s

How to fix it then?

A multi front approach is required. Reduce stress, do not overtrain, do cardo, make sure your blood potassium is above average & electrolytes are balanced, control your blood pressure, do HRV training, meditate, increase vagus parasympathetic tone. Another thing that can resolve the problem is EDTA suppository which takes care of high blood pressure. Here is a good medical article https://drjohnday.com/stop-pvcs/

If you are a heavy sweater – me, have been dehydrated – me, have been under stress lately – me, then you are a contender for potassium deficiency or PVC’s in general.

How common are PVC’s? In athletes – way more than regular folk – we are adrenaline addicts.

Clinical significance of PVCs depends on the clinical context in which they occur.

PVCs in young healthy patients without underlying structural heart disease are usually not associated with any increased rate of mortality.

PVCs in older adults, especially with underlying heart disease, are associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiac events, esp sustained ventricular dysrhythmias and sudden death.

So yeah if you are older & in bad shape it may spell big trouble. Otherwise its an abnormality but not anything to fear.

Here’s a good book on the topic…

The Haywire Heart by Lennard Zinn, Dr. John Mandrola, and Chris Case

Haywire Heart

Finally a good thing that is proven to reduce PVCs is a daily sauna.