Can Chocolate Cause PVC’s & what Type Specifically?
If you’re a chocolate lover but also suffer from premature ventricular contractions, does this mean you must give up your Heaven?
Chocolate is the Eighth Wonder of the world. It’s been said that on the eighth day, God spoke, “Let there be chocolate.”
It’s a natural stress fighter and antidepressant. Learning that it can cause premature ventricular contractions is quite distressing to those who suffer from the sensation of skipped or extra heartbeats.
Doctor’s Answer
“Various patients who have PVC’s find that their PVC’s can be triggered by different things,” says Daniel P. Morin, MD, FACC, formerly Director of both Electrophysiology Research and Cardiovascular Research for Ochsner Health System, and currently Professor of Medicine and Cardiology at University of California, San Francisco.
“For some patients, no trigger is identified. Some people only develop premature ventricular contractions when at rest, while others develop them during exertion.
“Some patients find that PVC’s are triggered by caffeine intake (or at least they feel their PVC’s more following caffeine intake), and chocolate does contain some amount of caffeine.
“However, most studies in the general population as a whole show no correlation between the PVC frequency and caffeine (or chocolate) intake.”
Of course, there is always that possibility that the thrilling anticipation of the chocolate that you’re about to eat might set off a few premature ventricular contractions.
Is your heart skipping a few beats just LOOKING at the mesmerizing layer cake below?
Shutterstock/Hurst Photo
If so, those would be “palpitations” of excitement, not pathology as in an arrhythmia.
So go ahead and enjoy your chocolate cake, brownies, cookies, etc., and so not worry about it making your premature ventricular contractions worse or triggering them out of nowhere.
A more potent cause of premature ventricular contractions is acute anxiety as well as chronic anxiety and stress.
If eating a bar of chocolate helps to subdue your inner demons, then go for it!
Dr. Morin’s clinical interests are in device therapy for cardiac dysfunction (including cardiac resynchronization therapy) and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias with medical therapy and/or catheter ablation.
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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Top image: Shutterstock/Africa Studio
Sudden Fast Heartbeat when Turning to the Side in Bed: Causes
Boom-boom-boom-boom, your heart rate noticeably speeds up simply because you turned over to the side in bed.
Does this mean poor fitness or an arrhythmia? (more…)
Heart Thumps when Lying on Stomach: Cause, Solution
Thump Thump Thump! Does this describe your heart when you lie on your stomach?
Are you feeling a “boom boom boom” that seems to be just a bit too forceful?
And it occurs only when you lie on your stomach. How odd is that? And not necessarily every single time, but that’s the only time it happens.
What is going on here?
“Changes in the heart’s position may make the heartbeat more forceful on the chest wall, resulting in feeling the heart beat more clearly,” says Daniel P. Morin, MD, FACC, formerly Director of both Electrophysiology Research and Cardiovascular Research for Ochsner Health System, and currently Professor of Medicine and Cardiology at University of California, San Francisco.
This annoying sensation, then, is not a sign of anything wrong with your heart or major blood vessels.
Nevertheless, it’s annoying, and there are ways you can prevent feeling your heart beating in your stomach while you’re lying on your tummy.
How to Prevent Your Heart from “Thumping” While Lying on Your Stomach
Dr. Morin says, “Don’t sleep on the stomach.” It’s that simple.
As you can see, this phenomenon is nothing to worry about.
Maybe now that you know it’s a function of anatomy and body position, you can relax and feel more at ease while your heart “thumps” when you’re lying on your belly.
But what if you can’t fall asleep in any other position?
You can train your body to fall asleep in a different position.
- Try different pillow arrangements.
- Maybe try elevating your feet.
- If sleeping on your side and/or back is uncomfortable, see if a three-quarter position won’t work. In that position, place a plump pillow between your legs.
- Play a white noise machine to help loll you into a peaceful slumber.
If the only way you can fall asleep is if you lie on your stomach, then embrace the sound of your heartbeat pumping much needed blood throughout your body. The muscle is merely doing its job.
Dr. Morin’s clinical interests are in device therapy for cardiac dysfunction (including cardiac resynchronization therapy) and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias with medical therapy and/or catheter ablation.
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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Can a DVT Cause Numbness or Tingling in the Leg?
You know that a DVT can cause pain, cramping and soreness in a leg, but did you also know that it can cause numbness and tingling?
“Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is often labeled the ‘silent killer’ because the blood clot can travel [to the lungs] and lead to death,” says Walter Gaman, MD, FABFM, board certified in family medicine and the author of several award-winning books including “Age to Perfection: How to Thrive to 100, Happy, Healthy, and Wise.”
“In about half the people affected, DVT symptoms include a hot and painful area within the leg, most commonly the calf.
“Some people experience this pain with or without numbness and tingling in the leg, but many people develop these sensations as well.
“The reason it has been named the ‘silent killer’ is because the other half of the population with DVT may not experience any symptoms at all.
“DVT is a serious condition that can lead to the loss of life if the blood clot breaks off and goes to the lungs, a condition known as pulmonary embolism.”
Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include sudden difficulty breathing, chest pain and feeling faint.
A blood clot that’s lodged in a vein in a leg or the pelvic area can become fragmented at any second and within seconds be at the entrance to the lungs.
Shutterstock/Designua
If it blocks the pulmonary artery where it splits off into each lung (saddle embolism), death is quick.
Smaller emboli can also be peppered about inside the lungs. Either way, the condition is a medical emergency.
“Keep in mind that numbness and tingling in the leg can also be caused by a number of other conditions such as diabetes, neuropathy, stroke or even something as simple as a sitting position that temporarily blocks blood flow or causes that area to have a sensation of ‘falling asleep,’” says Dr. Gaman.
Sciatica (a pinched or compressed nerve in the upper leg) can also cause tingling and numbness in the leg.
“Since numbness and tingling of an extremity can be a serious condition, anything that lasts more than a few minutes after changing positions should be discussed with your healthcare provider,” says Dr. Gaman.
Dr. Gaman is with Executive Medicine of Texas and is with the Staying Young Radio Show 2.0 podcast.
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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Top image: Shutterstock/GBALLGIGGSPHOTO
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Cause of Tingling on Tip of Nose Includes Multiple Sclerosis
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What Twitching Between Thumb and Index Finger Means
Did you read somewhere that ALS causes muscle twitching & are now freaking out because you’re twitching between your thumb and index finger?
Twitches Between Thumb & Index Finger: Uncommon Area for Fasciculations
“Twitching between the thumb and index finger, or anywhere else for that matter, is often a sign of stress,” says Walter Gaman, MD, FABFM, board certified in family medicine and the author of several award-winning books including “Age to Perfection: How to Thrive to 100, Happy, Healthy, and Wise.”
“This stress can be mental or physical, but is most definitely real,” says Dr. Gaman, who is board certified in family medicine.
Can twitching between the thumb and index finger ever mean ALS?
“Twitching in the hands may be a symptom of a more serious condition such as ALS or MS, but is not a diagnostic sign of these conditions,” says Dr. Gaman.
Source: vecteezy.com
“Someone who experiences twitching between the thumb and index finger, but no other symptoms such as muscle weakness or fatigue, should not be concerned about these conditions.
“Worrying about serious conditions such as this can cause stress and make the problem worse.”
When the fear of ALS becomes consuming, people are inclined to conduct strength tests for the muscle area in question.
For the thumb and index finger, they may find themselves spending large amounts of time testing the strength via activities such as unscrewing tight jar lids, picking up bowling balls, picking up thick books at the binder with just their fingertips, or doing fingertip pushups – anything that engages the thumb and index finger.
Depositphotos.com
And “passing” a strength test is never enough. The anxious individual is satisfied for the moment, but soon after is driven to conduct the same test “just to be sure,” or another one that’s more difficult.
If they’re in really bad mental shape about this, they may unknowingly set themselves up for what’s known as perceived weakness by giving themselves a strength test that’s too hard to pass.
An example might be that of picking up a standard-size brick, with just the fingers of the affected hand – and not being able to do it.
They’ll attempt this with the other hand (the one without the twitching) and will fail as well – but their mind will play tricks on them.
They’ll think that, despite failing to pick up the brick, that it wasn’t as difficult as with the twitching hand. They will then interpret this as a sign of ALS or MS.
DO NOT LET YOUR MIND PLAY TRICKS ON YOU.
How to Make Twitching Between the Thumb and Index Finger Calm Down
Dr. Gaman explains, “Reducing stress and resting can help relieve twitching symptoms.
“The body can also become stressed during times of dehydration when the electrolytes become imbalanced.
“Proper hydration and replenishing electrolytes can help solve the problem.
“Some vitamin and mineral deficiencies can also cause twitching between the thumb and index finger or in other places.
“Identifying and correcting these deficiencies [e.g., magnesium supplementation] should resolve the problem if this is the cause.
“If twitching worsens or is not resolved with simple measures like hydration, rest and a good multi-vitamin, seek the opinion of your healthcare provider.”
Dr. Gaman is with Executive Medicine of Texas and is with the Staying Young Radio Show 2.0 podcast.
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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