Have you ever felt like your heart was doing the tango without your permission? If so, you may have experienced a common type of arrhythmia called a premature ventricular contraction, or PVC.

While an occasional PVC is generally nothing to worry about, repeated ectopic beats are a cause for concern. A visit to your doctor will most likely result in a prescription for medication. Unfortunately, drugs are merely a band-aid covering up a bigger problem. Worse, they often don’t work or may even worsen your heart palpitations.

Did you know you can treat premature ventricular contractions naturally without using dangerous medications? By addressing the root cause of your PVCs, you can eliminate them for good.

What are PVCs?

The heart has an electrical system that acts as its wiring. It helps the heart beat in a rhythmic and coordinated manner. The heart’s natural pacemaker is the sinoatrial (SA) node in the right atria. It sends an electrical signal that tells the atria to contract. This signal passes through the atrioventricular (AV) node and eventually reaches the ventricles, causing them to contract too. This process creates a normal sinus rhythm, causing the heart to beat 60-100 times a minute in a healthy person.

However, when something goes wrong in this electrical system, it can cause an irregular heartbeat known as premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). In PVCs, the electrical signal originates from the ventricles instead of the SA node, causing the heart to contract too early.

How do you fix PVCs in the heart?

If you are one of the many people who experience heart palpitations, you may wonder how to stop PVCs. After all, it’s distressing when the heart is beating out of sync.

While it may seem like visiting a doctor would be the best way to resolve PVCs for good, most physicians rely on prescription medications or invasive cardiovascular procedures to address the issue. Unfortunately, this quick fix attempt is not often successful. Prescription medications used to treat PVCs include:

• Beta-blockers: Beta-blockers work by blocking the effects of adrenaline on the heart, slowing the heart rate and reducing the force of contractions. Some examples of beta-blockers are metoprolol, atenolol, and propranolol. 

• Calcium channel blockers: These drugs block calcium from entering the cells of the heart and blood vessels, reducing the force of heart contractions and relaxing the blood vessels. Some examples of calcium channel blockers include diltiazem, amlodipine, and verapamil.

• Anti-arrhythmic drugs: These drugs work to regulate the heart’s rhythm. Antiarrhythmic medicines used to treat PVCs include amiodarone, flecainide, and propafenone.

Doctors sometimes recommend catheter ablation for high-risk patients with frequent PVCs who are unresponsive to pharmaceutical intervention. During this invasive procedure, a physician uses radiofrequency energy to destroy abnormal heart tissue. In rare cases, doctors may recommend implanting a cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to assist a person with uncontrolled PVCs.

Regrettably, medications and procedures used to treat PVCs carry considerable risks, and their success rates are relatively low. For instance, research suggests that medications such as beta-blockers are seldom effective in stopping PVCs and may even pose a danger. Additionally, one should not overlook the severe side effects these drugs can have.

The potential dangers of taking prescription drugs or having an invasive procedure to treat premature ventricular contractions often outweigh the benefits. Furthermore, most people do not experience significant relief from PVC symptoms through medications, making the risks not worthwhile.

9 natural treatments for premature ventricular contractions

Thankfully, there are many ways to treat PVCs naturally. Premature ventricular contractions can often improve through a healthy lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and stress management techniques. But what does this actually entail? To achieve this, the following lifestyle habits are recommended to reduce PVC occurrence.

● Clean your diet

Adopt an organic diet that mirrors the eating patterns of our ancestors. The focus should be on consuming organic vegetables and greens, grass-fed beef and organs, free-range poultry and eggs, and wild-caught seafood. The omega-3 fatty acids in seafood can positively impact heart health and alleviate PVCs. Moreover, avoid unhealthy processed foods containing sugar, gluten, GMOs, pesticides, and other chemicals.

● Stay hydrated with quality water

Fluids are essential for maintaining health, and dehydration is one of the most common triggers for PVCs. Dehydration contributes to electrolyte imbalances. Low minerals in the blood, such as magnesium and potassium, can trigger heart palpitations.

Adequate hydration is more than replacing fluids from sweat. Alcohol use, drinking caffeinated beverages, and traveling on an airplane all contribute to water loss in the body. Keep in mind, however, that not all water is healthy. Drinking tap and bottled water can expose you to harmful chemicals that can affect your heart health. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the water you consume is of high quality to avoid any negative impact on your heart.

● Move your body

Staying active, preferably outdoors, can work wonders for the heart by enhancing vagal tone and strengthening the heart muscle. Regular exercise reduces the risk of premature ventricular contractions.

However, it’s crucial to pay attention to your body’s signals during exercise. If you experience an increase in PVC symptoms, stop immediately and consult your healthcare provider.

● Get enough shut-eye

We live in a society that undervalues sleep. However, getting enough quality sleep is essential for maintaining heart health and reducing PVC risk.

Studies show that sleep deprivation can trigger PVCs and other heart arrhythmias. Therefore, it’s crucial to establish a consistent sleep schedule and aim for 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night. In addition, limit exposure to blue-light electronics, particularly in the evening. Establishing a regular sleep schedule that aligns with natural daylight patterns is also helpful by going to bed and waking up at consistent times.

Many individuals with PVCs have sleep apnea, a disorder that causes pauses in breathing while sleeping. Therefore, those with PVCs may benefit from a sleep evaluation to determine if sleep apnea is the cause of their heart palpitations.

● Spend time in the sun

Adequate amounts of sunshine do wonders for the body, including the heart. Exposure to sunlight can also help boost mood and reduce stress, which may positively impact heart health and reduce PVCs.

Spend as much time as safely possible in the sun, exposing your bare chest to the sunlight and visualizing the sun’s rays healing your heart.

● Reduce stress

Stress is a known trigger for PVCs in some individuals, and studies support that negative emotions exacerbate PVCs. High stress levels can lead to increased sympathetic nervous system activity and decreased parasympathetic nervous system activity, which can cause the heart to beat irregularly.

Managing stress is a crucial aspect of natural PVC treatment. Therefore, it is essential to incorporate stress-reducing activities into your daily routine. These may include meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, outdoor activities, or socializing with friends and family.

● Avoid environmental toxins

We live in a toxic world. Studies have found that air pollution causes inflammation and oxidative stress, thus triggering PVCs.

However, it’s not just the air outside our homes that’s dangerous. Research shows that indoor air is often more polluted than the fresh air we breathe outside. Therefore, you must consider all the cleaning, beauty, and other products you bring home. Choose organic products that are free from toxic chemicals whenever possible. Also, consider investing in a medical-grade air purifier.

● Seek out a good chiropractor

Most people associate chiropractic work with musculoskeletal problems. However, chiropractors are experts in helping the body heal from back and neck discomfort and beyond. Misalignments in the spine can affect all bodily systems, including the heart. Regular chiropractic adjustments prevent subluxations, helping the nervous system stay balanced and reducing the risk of PVCs.

● Consider evidence-based natural supplements

Nature’s creations are unparalleled, and science has yet to uncover all of the valuable compounds present in our food. However, the quality of our food today is not the same as in the past. Due to poor farming practices and soil depletion over the years, the nutrient density of our food has decreased. Furthermore, pollution affects our food through rain, leading to further nutritional depletion.

Obtaining all the necessary nutrients from food alone is simply not feasible. High-quality supplements provide the body with the nutrients needed to function optimally. Magnesium, potassium, and a multivitamin sometimes provide the solution, but at Natural Heart Doctor, we prefer a more in-depth diagnostic and personalized approach.

Next steps

PVCs can be concerning and uncomfortable. While prescription medications and invasive procedures are often recommended to address PVCs, there are many safe natural treatments that are more effective in reducing the frequency and severity of PVC symptoms.

You can start by booking a free 20-minute consultation call with a NHD health coach. During this call, you and your coach can explore the possible causes of your PVCs and discuss strategies to reduce or eliminate them altogether.