The ectopic heartbeat vagus nerve connection.
Yes! there is an ectopic heartbeat vagus nerve palpitations connection and there may be relief for you and me. With so many issues the most important thing is to get MORE INFO!
What is ectopic heartbeats? In short, it is extra or skipped heartbeats, and I did a short post on ECTOPIC HEARTBEATS, PVC AND PAC BEATS to try and explain it in my own words. It can also be explained as a heartbeat that is in the “wrong place”. That means, too early in the heart rhythm cycle.
For some of us who have had AFIB, but are now AFIB free and in sinus rhythm, this ectopic heartbeat vagus nerve palpitations “thing” can be a scary unknown monster! I am talking about myself and many other people. The doctor says you are in rhythm, you can feel your own pulse and it’s in rhythm, but then you get these HARD and skipped beats! What now!!
This post is for those people who know their hearts are in rhythm and the doctor confirmed that your heart is (structurally) OK.
Your ectopic heartbeat and health.
An ectopic heartbeat can also be described as a Premature atrial contraction (PAC) or a premature ventricular contraction (PVC)
Is treatment of ectopic heartbeats critical? Here’s the deal.
In most cases NO! and symptoms will resolve themselves in most cases according to HEALTHLINE. This will however not curb the anxiety that most of us experience when we get that awful ectopic attacks. So! they may not be harmful in most cases but seek medical advice in the following situations:
- If the condition persists for a long time.
- If you experience chest pain and pressure.
- Sustained rapid heart rate.
- Other symptoms with the ectopic heartbeats.
What is the vagus nerve?
It is the tenth cranial nerve and interacts with the parasympathetic control of the heart, lungs and digestive system. It is the longest nerve of the autonomic nervous system and was previously known as the pneumogastric nerve. One of the tasks of the vagus nerve is to mediate the lowering of the heart rate.
Therefore calming a sensitive vagus nerve will help you calm down: = slower your heart rate.
Vagus nerve irritation symptoms may include excessive acid, bloating, gas and other digestive problems. The vagus nerve supplies parasympathetic fibers to our heart and other organs. And the parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for stimulation of the rest-and-digest or otherwise known as the “feed-and-breed” activities. It opposes and complements the sympathetic nervous system which is responsible for the fight-or-flight response activities.
I have a few pins/pictures of the vagus nerve on Pinterest.
What about vagus nerve atrial fibrillation?
There is something like “Vagally-mediated” -AFIB, as mentioned in a-fib.com. As also mentioned in the international journal of cardiology, vagal nerve atrial fibrillation, does exist but it is an under-recognized entity and will not be discussed in this post. It is definitely something I will lock into in future posts.
What can YOU do about this ectopic heartbeat vagus nerve palpitations connection?
With all types of treatment, there is stuff you can add to your lifestyle and stuff you can take out off your life. Here are 10 tips to relieve or stop your ectopic heartbeats.
- Simple breathing exercise. A study showed that by slowing down patients breathing the ectopic heartbeats were reduced notably. In the study, patients were instructed to slow down their breaths from about 15 breaths per minutes to about 6 breaths per minute, by taking 5 seconds to breathe in, and 5 seconds to breathe out, and the number of ectopic heartbeats dropped significantly. Dr Sanjay Gupta explains the exercise and the study in one of his York Cardiology videos.
- Reduce or stop alcohol intake. Alcohol is a stimulant and can contribute to the onset of AFIB but also ectopic heartbeats. With stimulants, you have to know how your body reacts to it. What works for me may not work for you. Too much alcohol will not only be bad for you but can put you in AFIB and increase your ectopic heartbeats.
- Burping. To take the pressure off your vagus nerve due to bloating of your stomach, you can burp/bring up gas. There are many over the counter products that will break up gas and prompt burping. This can bring immediate relief in most cases if your ectopic heartbeat vagus nerve connection is your main problem. Calming a sensitive vagus nerve will help to slow down your heart rate.
- Stress Less. If you have been checked out by your doctor and he says your heart is OK, then believe him! If you are stressed your heart goes faster, and you can “feel” your heart more, then you stress more. You see the cycle? One of the most common links between people who have ectopic heartbeats is the fact that they have health-related anxiety. Stress can be a trigger of ectopic heartbeats.
- Keep your bowels moving. Constipation can lead to bloating and that will influence the vagus nerve. Taking a magnesium supplement can help with better bowel movement. If you have regular bowel movements you decrease the chance that your vagus nerve gets irritated. Using some kind of safe detox will also help. Many people have had success with this Rooibos Tea Detox.
- Chew your food. You need your food broken down in your stomach, otherwise, it causes constipation and bloating. To assist with the breakdown of food you need enzymes. When you chew your food properly it releases those enzymes in the saliva that break down food. The other spinoff, of chewing your food properly, is that you eat longer and then you do not eat that much. Your brain gets the time to report that you are full.
- Change your posture. A study showed that patients had more vagal ectopic heartbeats when they were lying on their right side. People could also feel ectopic heartbeats when they were lying on their backs and left side. So be prepared to “feel” those HARD and skipped beats when you lie down. I have experienced it and it was no joke. I jolted up sometimes and in most cases, it helped. But you have to go to sleep sometime? Convincing myself that everything would be OK was difficult. Praying and believing that I was alright and saved in any case was a big reassurance. Going to bed very tired also helps, because you then you do not think that much and just fall asleep.
- Get more Magnesium. About 50 to 80% of Americans are deficient in magnesium. The value of magnesium for the correct functioning of your heart is immense. There is proof that increased levels of magnesium will help curb your ectopic heartbeats. In a study done at Coração Universidade de São Paulo, “Symptom improvement was achieved in 93.3% of patients” who used the magnesium pidolate for 30 days. Dr. Sanjay Gupta also made a video about “Magnesium works for Ectopic heart beats” and this study. Your ectopic heartbeat vagus nerve palpitations my drop significantly if you get in more magnesium.
- Eliminate Caffeine. This is the only way to find out if caffeine has an influence on your ectopic heartbeat vagus nerve palpitations. Sorry to say but there’s caffeine in chocolate, and not just coffee. If you suffer a lot from ectopics it may be a good idea to do a small test on yourself. Count your ectopics when you consume caffeine in normal everyday life. Then cut out all caffeine for 30 days and monitor your ectopic heartbeats. Try drinking Rooibos tea for a month, and see if there is a difference. This simple test will help you immensely. A simple detox will also help.
- Do not overindulge. You must treat your stomach with respect! Due to the vagus nerve, there is a very strong connection between your stomach and your heart. An uncomfortable stomach can trigger ectopic heartbeats. An overfull stomach can trigger ectopic heartbeats. Stomach issues like indigestion, GERD or ulcer causes irritation that travels to the heart. This tip also relates to keeping your bowels moving, and not irritating you stomach with indigestion.
Other names for Ectopic heartbeats, that will help you find relief:
Abnormal heartbeat, PVB(premature ventricular beat), Premature beats, PVC (premature ventricular complex/contraction), Extrasystole, Premature supraventricular contractions, PAC, Premature atrial contraction.
That’s not all……..
Do not irritate your vagus nerve, a hiatal hernia can be a culprit, as well as excess alcohol, spicy foods, stress, fatigue, and anxiety.
Passing gas will relieve bloating in most cases, but doing it where and when is the problem? not in a lift.
I do not know enough about the Valsalva maneuver and could not say if it is useful with ectopic heartbeats. Consult your doctor before you do something like this and any feedback is welcome.
Consult your doctor about other vagal maneuvers like gagging, immersing your face in ice-cold water and coughing, before you attempt them and to get the correct instructions.
Exercise can, and in most cases will help, for people who are inactive.
Ectopic heartbeat vagus nerve palpitations may not get much attention from doctors.
The reason being is that in most cases it is benign. But the fear and anxiety is awful.
USE MY THOUGHTARREST TECHNIQUE.
This technique that has been there for thousands of years must be used more often. It is not my creation and there are other terms for the technique. It may not have anything to do with your heart, but because ectopic heartbeat vagus nerve palpitations are benign in most cases, this technique is perfectly suited to help you.
Have a look at it Here!
Make a donation if you want to support this website.
I am not a Doctor or health professional and am only speaking out of my own experience and research. Please ask your own doctor, caregiver or health professional, if you want to take any new supplement or experiment with the vagus/vagal maneuver. But do ask as many questions as you can.
Good article, thanks.
Thanks! Pleasure.
I have just been diagnosed has having a mix of Bigemini and trigemini, I have been put on a low dose beta blocker and I am awaiting further tests, I have a lot of unanswered questions but I have found this article very interesting. Thank you
Pleasure!
Hi
This is really solid advice. Ive have frequent ectopics , between 3 and 10 thousand every day for over five years. Its completely debilitating. Ive researched the problem and found similar information to you but in bringing this information together, particularly the ‘ten tips’ youre doing something fairly unique. This stuff needs to be out there. More power to you!
For me stopping caffiene, reducing alcohol, not pigging out on food and getting regular modest exercise over the past couple of months have made a huge difference. Ive played sport all my life but the ectopics put an end to that. Every time my heart rate went up the ectopics kicked in. Its hard to enjoy sport when you feel you chest banging round constantly. So i took up several of the measures you highlight here and finally after years of different meds and constant frustration im seeing a big improvement. Joy!
What youve done here can be a big help to many people. As you said many of the heart related forums are useless in terms of practical support so getting this information out there is so important. I’ll post a link to your article on a few of the forums.
Kudos also for not presenting this as some miraculous cure. There are crooks and sheisters everywhere offering ‘alternative’ therapies so its important to be honest about who you are and the limits of your experience. What you are suggesting requires determination and in many cases a lifestyle change. Its not easy but ive found that the benefits are there. It works for me. It was great to stumble accross your blog which not only confirmed what ive been doing but to have all this practical help in one place is just what arrhythmia sufferers need.
One suggested addition to your list…..weight loss, particularly men whose weight tends to be carried up front. Taking the added presure off the stomach particularly if you have any kind of problem in that area ( i have a hiatus hernia) ive found also helps.
Thanks again and keep up the good work. I know youve been ill recently so get yourself back and fit asap.
Best wishes
John
Hi John
Thx for the wonderful comment. Glad to help.
I 110% agree with the weight loss. It helps with everything. I even have this “idea” in my head that doctors are more eager to help you when you are in “shape” because they can see you are doing your part, for you’re own health.
I’m 100% again, but the hospital trip did create a small speedhump in my life, that always causes reflection, inspection, and examination.
Thx again for the positive comment.
Thanks for the info ,, I feel a sense of relief : )
I’ve been a runner/ jogger for 30 years and recently diagnosed with PVC, and had ablation past Jan , not taking any meds. I thought the palpations were gone with but returned when trying to get back to running , ran hills on a hot day and then it happened again ,, long story short, I’ve become aware of those heavy feeling beats and wondered if it was a bad sign . I’m due fir a follow up visit with cardiologist end of the month . I was sure I would have to wear the monitor again but thanks to your article , I’ll calm down and try a run on the track and remember the vagus nerve
Thx for the comment.
I found that talking about PVC/Ectopic beats with a doctor and cardiologist is difficult because it was a big issue for me in the beginning and I wanted to stress how much anxiety I experienced during PVC/Ectopic “attacks”.
The other thing is that sometimes it is difficult to measure and, even capture on a monitor so I was sort of unsure of what I felt.
Write down the questions you want to ask your cardiologist so that you don’t forget them during your visit.
I lose my breath..as my heart stops beating. No shortness of breath but feels like Im about to drop from no air and then I get weakness and fast heart beats.
Alcohol is not a stimulant.
Hi T-Bone
I know there is a lot of debate about it and I used it in the context of a “stimulant” with the following meaning given by the dictionary in mind “raising levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body.
“caffeine has stimulant effects on the heart”
I used these sites:
According to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, entitled Stimulant and sedative effects of alcohol, “alcohol produces both stimulant and sedating effects in humans.”
https://stimulants.com/types-of-stimulants/is-alcohol-a-stimulant/
According to fact- findings, alcohol can serve both sides i.e. it can be considered a depressant as well as a stimulanthttps://www.addictshelpline.com/is-alcohol-a-stimulant-or-depressant/
There is also often confusion if it is considered a stimulant or depressant drug type. Even while alcohol consumed in small amounts alcohol can have a stimulating effect on people, it is identified in the class of depressant drug types.
https://www.e-counseling.com/addictions/is-alcohol-a-stimulant-or-a-depressant-and-is-it-really-so-dangerous/
Although classified as a depressant, the amount of alcohol consumed determines the type of effect. Most people drink for the stimulant effect, such as a beer or glass of wine taken to “loosen up.” But if a person consumes more than the body can handle, they then experience alcohol’s depressant effect.
https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/alcohol.html
Alcohol DEFINITELY is a stimulus if you have heart issues. My cardiologist told me to steer clear of alcohol, caffeine and chocolate. My heart races out of control when I over drink, resting rate is usually 130-140. You don’t know what you are taking about! Alcohol will ‘depress’ your mood, not your heart!
My comment was meant directly for ‘T bone’
Alcohol is a cardiac (especially conductivity irritant, maybe not quite accurate to say “stimulant”. Not wise to get hammered then try to do endurance athletics the next day for sure.
Hello Jim
Thanks for the comment.
Thank you so much. I have been suffering with this for years now and going to the doctor, cardiologist, and back to a new doctor. I really appreciate this article and it’s suggestions.
Hi Will
Thank you for the nice comment.
Janco
I have Gurd. And heart palpt 24hrs a day. Short of breath some times. And I loose.my pulse when palps increase into big attack. Also laying back brings on Big heart stops. And etopics. I’m on 2 medium a day. Not helping…?
Excellent article. My heart arrhythmia problems have a variety of causes: I have a hiatal hernia, so I should eat 5-6 small meals to get my 2,000 calories, which of course is difficult. No alcohol, but coffee. Permanently trying to reduce the number of cups I drink. still tastes better than Roibois Tea
Then the type of foods I’m not supposed to eat, because they cause gas and/or slow down the movement in the colon. All this aggravated by colon cancer surgery, though 11 years ago and no recurrence. A big problem for me is to change eating and drinking habits and get my “gut” in shape. I like to eat food I shouldn’t eat, italian type crusty bread and cheesecake off and on. It’s hard to avoid when the rest of the family eats it. Then, when I bloat and get my irregular heart rhythm, what helps in my case is Fennel and Caraway tea with Ginger root, 1 teaspoon of each and a few slices of Ginger, simmered for 15 minutes. That brings the bloating down and my stomach no longer pushes against my heart. So I hope I could make a small contribution for sufferers who have similar problems. Thank you for your excellent article. Very helpful to reduce anxiety and show ways to freedom for many “troubled hearts “.
Hi Hermann
Thx for the comment. Will have to try that Fennel and Caraway tea with Ginger root recipe.
CCF = coriander, cumin, fennel tea also helps. As does burping, when you are bloated, I often (less often now) just push on my stomach and burp. When the gas is gone, the symptoms cease.
Thanks, will have to try it.
I noticed I felt some skipped beats (PAV/PAC) after working out hard a few years back, didnt think anything of it because I didnt feel any other symptoms and assumed that because I my heart was working at max rate it was reasonable to feel something odd. Then I had several nights I noticed them as I was going to bed, but didnt bother me much until I started noticing them before going to bed and relaxing. The increasing frequency caused me to go to urgent care and had some blood work and a quick ECG, all was normal. I also got a 24 hour monitor during which time I felt no skipped feelings, though the report said there were rare isolated ventricular and super ventricular ectopy. I made an appointment with my PCM who referred me to a cardiologist and I got a 15 day monitor, Echocariogram and a Nuclear stress test. During my 15 day monitoring I had probably several occasions per day where I would feel something and hit the record button, but the day after I took off the monitor I probably had more palpitations over the next 36 hours and maybe the whole time on the monitor, it was while I was going to sleep, all throughout the day… it was bad. What I wanted to say though was I began to notice that whenever I was getting the skipped beats I was also burping right after, almost every time. Another night I was having frequent palpitations I noticed I had a lot of burping and gas and then they stopped and my heart rate and chest all felt calm again. The next day I didnt eat until 11am and had not experienced any palpitations, and minutes after taking a few bites of some food I was burping and getting gas and the palpitations returned. I’m strongly suspecting some king of GI/vagus nerve connections but there doesnt seem to be a lot of medical literature that links GI problems to this, not that Ive found anyways.
Im 33 otherwise pretty healthy male, I stopped drinking caffeine about 2 months ago and stopped my already minimal alcohol intake just in case, but it apparently didnt change anything as Ive had more palpitations in the last 2 weeks than in my whole previous remembrance.
I follow up with the cardiologist in a few days to go over what the tests showed and see what he says. I wanted to see if anyone here has had any success in their treatment strategies? Did fixing your gut help, or taking extra magnesium maybe? Just hoping this is the result of some bodily/hormone changes related to aging and wont continue…
Hi Dan
Thx for the comment/question.
Hope you get some good advice. Unfortunately there’s not a lot of literature about the Ectopic/vagus connection.
Hi Dan, I just wondered if you’ve made any progress with your condition, because what you have described ie palpitations and almost simultaneous burping and gas is exactly what I have on occasions. I also get an distended stomach which is very much a new thing!
Hi Sean
Thx for the comment, and I also want to hear what Dan says.
Low FODMAP foods help reduce the bloating. http://www.shayahealth.com/resources/Stanford-University-Low-FODMAP-Diet-Handout.pdf.pdf
Thanks for the comment. Will look into it.
Thanks for great blog, I learned a lot. Some of it i had suspected but felt very unsure about.
I’ve shared your headline pic & blog site name on my Instagram (life.head.heart), hope that’s ok, I think some there will find it useful too.
I’d suspected chocolate, but didn’t want to believe it, haha! And I’d wondered if I was right that the PVCs were mire frequent when laying down.
Two things I’m still curious & trying to observe. First, I seem to get PVCs when I go outside into the cold, and breathe cold air. Doesn’t happen if I’m just cold inside, only when I walk first outside. I now wonder if it’s because the hit of cold air briefly increases my breathing & maybe heart rate?
Second, I seem to get them more when I’m “tired” – when I’ve been pushing myself, eg done a couple days hiking, travelling about or other exertion. Wonder if my little electrical nodes get a bit confused after my heart &body have exerted themselves !
(Me: 52, F, repaired SV-ASD & PAPVD via OHS, 8 months ago. Big Afib post op, cardio verted. Was on amiodarone 6 months, just come off & probably a bit alert for flutters !)
Thanks again, your personal observations & lit research are so useful. All the best
Hi Lisa
Thanks for the comment and Instagram share, I love it. Sorry for only replying now.
I don’t know about the cold because I have never experienced it and we live in an area (Bloemfontein South Africa) were the cold seasons go to about -5C max but only for short periods.
The “tired” I can definitely relate to. I don’t know if there is any research out on it but when I’m tired I feel more Ectopics. But also not just when I’m physically tired but also after a stressful time, after a night shift or a day or so after I’ve trained hard for a few days.
I wish there was more research about these PAC’s and PVC’c
I’ve suspected, for a long time, there was a connection with this nerve and irregular heart beat, because I belch when I get a unusual sensation in my chest. Recently, I noticed something hot to drink or soup helped. The soup could be some combination effect, like heat, salt and protein.
Thomas
Thx for your comment.
Janco
Thank you, great article, you have just answered all my questions!
Thank you for this article, I was googling about VG Palpitations and found you. It is very interesting and resonates with me immensely.
I thought you may be interested in something I developed a few years ago…..
https://ascendingwisdom.co.uk/vnr-healing/
This is a healing modality purely based on rejuvenating the Vagus Nerve. We’ve had some amazing results as this, as you know, is one of the major and most important nerves in the body. I trust you enjoy reading about it as much as I enjoyed reading your blog.
Thank You
Nicola xXx
What helped me was taking a good prebiotic/probiotic to help heal my gut. That along with taking a magnesium supplement and at least 30 minutes of exercise a day did wonders.
Hi Laura
I have taken probiotic’s a few times after I used antibiotics. I some cases I have to use antibiotics when I visit the dentist(because of my heart operation). Not to mention the “normal” times I use antibiotics for flu.
I try and keep my gut healthy by eating yogurt, but the strange thing is that here in South Africa we only have one shopping chain that stock yogurt with “live cultures” in.
Thx for the comment.
Hi Laura check out my YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0n8GAwqetIM_e0BvzwWsg
I am thrilled I found you, I have long that my a fib was caused by food, or the amount, especially since I have a hiatal hernia.
Hi Lorna
Very happy to hear my site could help you.
Check out some of my videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbKTAbcN_pw
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0n8GAwqetIM_e0BvzwWsg
Janco
I am a physician and a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and I must tell you that your blog is more informative than any of the medical papers I have read on the subject of Vagally induced A.Fib/PVC’s. Your recommendations are astute and reassuring, especially for those of us who are understandably anxious about our diagnoses. I have a great Cardiac Electrophysiologist but feel better about my condition after reading your blog. Keep it up.
Wow!
Thank you for the kind words.
When my heart goes out of rhythm I always ask my cardiologist “Why”. Most if not all the time he says that he does not know. Or that it’s linked to my heart operation history. I understand that I have an enlarged right atrium and scars on my heart, but I have also experienced some triggers that have put me into AFIB.
One of those triggers is an agitated vagus nerve. It usually is connected/related to a bloated stomach. The PVC’s are “common” and I don’t worry so much about them, but when it’s AFIB I get worried because I know cardioversion is what I’m heading for.
Thank you for that validation that I’m on the right track.
This article was very informative, thanks. I have Afib, The vagus nerve connection, hiatal hernia and acid reflux seem to all gang up on me, causing chest pain. also have stomach issues. am on BP meds, Eliquis and Digoxin to slow heart rate. See my cardio dr. twice a year, but he doesn’t address the stomach issue as part of the problem. Perhaps he would if I start talking about it, the 20 minute visit flies by, and if I’m still living, that’s all he’s concerned about it seems. But when all of that is happening, it’s rather frightening, and so tiresome to say the least, keeps me tired and sapped of energy. One good thing to know from all the comments, I’m not alone in the struggle, P.S. I’m a recycled teenager,87 years young.
Thank you for the comment.
I also mentioned the stomach/vagus nerve issue at a few of my cardiologist’s visits and he just says “oh”. I understand his main goal is just to keep me alive and my heart in rhythm.
Very interesting information. I am really struggling with all of this and my Doctor just looks at me like I am nuts.
Hi everyone,
Amazing information and huge thanks for all the tips. Interestingly for me and it’s why I’m writing this and to share – so like many guys, I get bloated and interestingly, when I looked into it, I believe it’s down to the coffee I’m drinking – really like it and was drinking probably 6 or 7 cups a day – only two were caffeinated with the others decaf. What I found out though, is that coffee contains acids which can inflame your gut and so I thought I would swap my coffee for tea – all decaf tea and guess what – bloating ‘disappeared’ overnight – still have a couple of decaf coffees but only on one day per week, with all other days over to decaf tea and the bloating has gone – so just sharing incase it helps
Hi Mike
Thank you for the tip.
So helpful to me, because at 84 I am contending with all the symptoms you covered. That my heart is involved is frightening, and I have been in ER twice in one month. I just passed out in the doctor’s office! He sent me to the hospital, and they found NOthING. Then, my oxygen level dropped to 89, and again ER, and they found nothing. Even heard the same nurse say here she is again and there is nothing wrong. Well, obviously if you pass out, there IS a problem. My heart raced, I could not breathe, and I passed out. The vagus nerve damage could be it because I survived the Whipple surgery from 2007. Now, at this age, I have to go through this problem. But, I am alive.
Hi Barbara
Stay strong! Glad I could help.
Hello. Great post and discussion. In your link to Dr. Gupta’s video, he talks about taking magnesium pidolate. Where does one find that? Online stores mainly sell oxide, citrate, or glycinate versions.
Hi Jay
Sorry I also don’t know were to get it
Janco
Hi All. Very interesting! I have been suffering for years now with bloating and palp’s coming in tandem out of know where. the thing that struck a cord here is the connection between bloating and palp’s I always thought there had to be a link. That’s for everyone’s comments very helpful
Hi Jubi
Thank you for the comment.