CPAP use is triggering PVCs

[Grumpy48]

Back before I was using CPAP I was having a glass of red wine in the evening (heart healthy?) I was also having occurrences of PVC's during the day and sometimes at night (my primary care doc wasn't too concerned and said we'll watch them). Felt like a series of strong heartbeats in the chest that came on for no particular reason. The wine in the evening was disrupting my night time sleep I believe because of the sugar content, so when I started CPAP I stopped the nightly wine. Pretty much after beginning the CPAP and stopping the wine, the occurrences of the PVC's came to a stop. Both alcohol and apnea can cause heart issues. I don't if either or both the alcohol and apnea contributed to the PVC's, but they are no longer an issue for now.

When I started having the PVC's I bought an EMAY Wireless EKG Monitoring Device which has been interesting and useful to show my PCP what's going on. One of my longer lasting PVC episodes charted below.

[ChicagoGranny]

Could these be PVCs? Does this sound similar to what you dealt with?
Not at all.

There was an earlier thread where his ramp and minimum were set so low that he was probably having apneas during ramp.

[dataq1]

This is how a PVC would look on a ECG.
The sense of the "skipped beat" feeling is due to the compensatory pause following a PVC. Looking at the PVC in lead II, you can see that the contraction is significantly different that normally sinus fired rhythm, indicating that it occurred in a different part of the heart.

For myself, PVCs evidence themselves by a odd feeling of pressure about 4 inches above the left nipple. YMMV

PVC.jpg (177.09 KiB) Viewed 2202 times

[dataq1]

That’s not to suggest that Grumpy48 ECG is incorrect, What Grumpy’s post shows is a long run of PVCs.

That circumstance should be discussed with cardiologist or electrophysiologist.

[Grumpy48]

The PVC I had shown is know as a Bigeminy PVC as the occurring PVC is every other heartbeat. As my doctor had told me, PVC's aren't all that uncommon and most people that may have them occasionally may not even know it's occurring. He mostly said not too worry about it too much unless it's accompanied by dizziness, chest pain, or if they don't stop for a long period. It is rather unsettling when you first have an episode of a PVC and not knowing what may happen in subsequent minutes.
Episodes of PVC's is something one should discuss with their doctor just to ensure nothing else is going on.

[JoyD.]

OKIE BIPAP WROTE:

As Pugsy said, you do not always notice PACs or PVCs. I was diagnosed with PAC several years ago, and my cardiologist changed the diagnoses to PVC three years ago. I have never noticed any thing when they happen. The only way I know they are happening is if they show up when I check my blood pressure twice a day. My blood pressure monitor shows an icon for irregular heartbeat and how many times it happens during the blood pressure check.

Ditto! I have frequent PVCs, asymptomatic, and discovered them with the icon on my BP machine. My Cardiologist, after having me wear a Holter Monitor, elected not to treat them with medication (because of their side effects) since they are asymptomatic.