Question: I am a 47 year old female who experienced PVCs for the first time in July of 2018. I immediately scheduled an appointment with a cardiologist and they performed an EKG (which picked the PVCs up), then an echocardiogram, stress test, Holter Monitor, etc. All indicators pointed that the PVCs were BENIGN in nature. The Holter monitor detected ~1,600 PVCs in a 24 hour period and picked up some couplets (two in a row). I am scared to death. I went to see an electrophysiologist who did not have much time to spend with me and he looked at one EKG and said the PVCs are benign. I have cut out caffeine, etc. and kept a food log. There does not seem to be a common trigger. I have them every day; some days not quite as bad. I am scared that I am going to have a heart attack or stroke. I keep being assured that these are not life threatening, but how do you go from being a healthy middle-aged person to wake up one day to these awful electric misfires? My menstrual cycle has been all over the place since June-is it possible that these PVCs are related to perimenopause? I don't know how to relax about them. My whole life has been upside since they started and I am afraid to do anything--and it has caused me to become depressed. I want to get back to life, but feel that these few tests that depicts one point in time are thorough and maybe there is more going on. Any information or guidance you provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for the information above. I have had my thyroid gland check a few times and the TSH, etc. are within normal range. So, just to clarify, it is possible that PVCs are associated with perimenopause (chemical imbalance)? since all heart anomalies/disease, etc. been ruled out, how likely is that these PVCs will develop into something worse? (Ventricular Tachycardia, etc.). Sorry to be so anxious about this situation, but it is concerning when our electrical activity goes haywire in your heart after being a relatively healthy individual. I do not smoke, do not eat chocolate, cut white breads/pastas. I do have beer a few times a week (cardiologist said ok). Do you agree that is ok? I don't want to worsen my situation. I do exercise daily now.

Thank you so very much! This information is great and very helpful. This service is wonderful. It can be intimidating when you are sitting at the doctors office. It is also challenging to think of your questions during that office visit, etc. Thanks again and I will follow up on all the items that you have mentioned. Have a wonderful day.