[tom]

Jeff, I have been reading several forums regards PVC's. I must say I am impressed with your knowledge and communication skills. I am new to PVC's (I THINK). I am a 65 year old male and have been running for about 45 years (not continually of course). I have a low resting heart rate (low to mid 40's), and a sleeping rate of 39-41. I stopped checking my heart rate years ago as I can tell from years of experience just by listening to my body as I run. I still do a 11-9 minute pace at 125-140 bpm and will recover to a 80bpm within two minutes (this is when I sometimes will check my rate, to ensure I am not over doing it). I am 5'9'', and also have been doing weight training for 45 years plus. At 160 lbs, even with a BMI of nearly 24.0, I measure 9-10% body fat. Now, I have recently started having PVC's. ECG showed one, but no wave anomalies (that I know of) that would be of concern. 24 hour holter monitor showed 90,000 beats and 5,000 PVC's. Note that 2 one hour runs were included in this period. echo 2d doppler revealed mild mvp with "a tiny leak" (repurge i think is what this called, although I always thought it was "regurge"). My BP is usually under 120/80, sometimes 100/60 but at times (anxiety) it has gone 150/90. My Doc thought 5mg of Lisinopril a good idea, and since them my BP is more like 105/65 most of the time excpet for a morning surge right after I get out of bed to 135/85, and then a gradual drop as my heart rate increasesto the low to mid 50's with normal activity. No w for the question.. The PVC's come and go, sometimes lasting for a few hours at very irregular intervals (7 beats, 4 beat, 23 beats, 48 beats, 11 beats, 28 beats, etc etc etc). I can remember maybe 20 years ago feeling a slight pause every 4 beats (quadigeminy) and just thought my heart was so strong it was just taking a brief rest. Now , note I am not a world class long distance runner, I do 3-6 miles and always have as a cardio adjunct to my primary love, weight training. I notice the PVC's after my rate returns to 75bpm or less, and Holter showed zero PVC's during my runs or during any exercise activity. The PVC's feel like a burp in my throat and I would not notice the link to a pause in my heart beat if I am not taking a pulse. They come more often after meals and in the early AM. They can abolish for days at a time, and then come back for a day or two. OK, now your thoughts would be very very welome. PS, they started 3 months ago. I gave up coffee, but not a single malt scotch every day. I also stopped all vitamin/mineral supplements. The only thing I have noticed is a slight increase in my resting rate (2-3 bpm). Also more PVC's when standing, very few when squatting. seem to have started after giving up coffee entirely in order to sleep better. All blood tests are normal. I play/instruct golf for a living.