Can the stress of your life actually cause spontaneous PVCs during those periods when you’re in a more relaxed mood?
“PVCs may be caused by overall life stress, but are rarely caused by having a ‘bad day.’” says cardiologist Dr. Pam Marcovitz, MD, an internal medicine cardiologist with Frankel Cardiovascular Center in MI.
In other words, your bad hair day probably will not cause a premature ventricular contraction.
So if you occasionally have the so-called “one of those days,” this isn’t sufficient enough to trigger a run of PVCs.
However, if you have “one of those lives,” that is, an existence defined by ongoing stress and anxiety…then yes, this can bring on PVCs in a major way.
PVCs can result from acute anxiety, such as checking your phone for messages and seeing that one of the messages is from your doctor to tell you what your biopsy results are for that strange mole.
Your ponytail not turning out right is nothing compared to this.
Here come the premature ventricular contractions as you call the doctor back.
But where were they the evening prior when you were baking chocolate chip cookies with your young niece?
“PVCs may occur with too much caffeine, energy drinks or some medications that contain stimulants such as albuterol inhalers,” continues Dr. Marcovitz.
“They may also occur with alterations in blood electrolytes or abnormal magnesium levels. They may occur with anemia or sleep apnea.
“While PVCs may occur more frequently with life stress, there is rarely a direct relationship between the number of PVCs and having a bad day.”
Dr. Marcovitz has 40+ years of experience in helping people improve their heart health.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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