š I discovered something that reduces ectopic heartbeats by over 50% in many people.
Mar 23, 2025
š I discovered something that reduces ectopic heartbeats by over 50% in many people.
But it's not what you might think.
The real breakthrough wasn't just finding a technique that works in the momentāit was realising that our relationship with these sensations matters more than the sensations themselves.
The Science Behind the Sensation
Ectopic beats (also called premature ventricular complexes or PVCs) feel alarmingāthat "skipped" or "extra" heartbeat that makes your chest flutter and anxiety spike.
But here's what medical research shows:
- They're experienced by 40-75% of healthy adults during 24-hour monitoring
- Young, healthy adults have them just as frequently as older populations
- Without structural heart disease, people with PVCs have the same prognosis as anyone else
Despite these reassuring facts, that knowledge alone rarely calms the storm of anxiety these sensations can trigger.
The Accidental Discovery
A fascinating study published in the International Journal of Cardiology (PMID: 17004338) found something remarkable:
"Deep breathing at six breaths per minute reduced the frequency of PVC by at least 50%."
They stumbled upon this finding when an 18-year-old female with frequent PVCs, anxiety, and palpitations experienced complete relief during controlled breathing exercises.
When researchers tested this on more patients with frequent PVCs (more than 10 per minute), half of them saw their ectopic beats reduce by at least 50%.
The science suggests this works through increased vagal modulationāessentially, activating your body's natural calming system.
The Temporary Fix vs. True Freedom
But here's the revelation that changed everything for me:
š§ The problem isn't the symptoms. It's our reaction to them.
When you've been medically cleared and told your ectopics are benign, the continued suffering comes from:
The persistent doubt ("But what if the doctors missed something?")
The hyperawareness of every heartbeat
The anxiety cycle that keeps you trapped in fear
This is why I created a meditation that combines:
- The clinically-proven breathing technique (6 breaths per minute)
- Carefully crafted affirmations to rewire your relationship with your heart
- Guided acceptance practice to break the fear cycle
The True Goal: Coexistence, Not Elimination
The most liberating realization?
You don't need to eliminate ectopic beats to live peacefully.
What if instead of thinking "I need these to stop," you could simply notice them and think, "There's my heart, doing its thing"?
Imagine feeling an ectopic beat and responding with curiosity instead of fear. With acceptance rather than panic.
That's true freedom.
The Paradox of Control
When we let go of what we can't control (whether our heart occasionally beats in an unusual pattern), we can focus on what we can:
- Staying physically active
- Maintaining overall heart health
- Developing resilience and mental wellness
- Being present in our lives instead of constantly monitoring our heartbeats
My Guided Practice
The meditation I've created isn't just a quick fixāit's a path toward a new relationship with your heart.
It guides you through:
The exact breathing technique from the clinical research (5 seconds in, 5 seconds out)
Affirmations that help rewire your subconscious responses
Practices for developing acceptance and compassion toward your own body
The goal isn't to need this meditation forever. The goal is to need it less and lessānot because your ectopics disappear, but because you've become comfortable with them.
Try It Yourself
https://youtu.be/Rh-HKSuLF5I
If you experience benign ectopic beats and the anxiety that often accompanies them, you can listen to my meditation and breathing exercise walkthrough here:
Remember: Your heart is strong and resilient. These sensations are natural and normal. Even without this exercise, you are completely safe.
What's your experience with ectopic beats? Have you found strategies that help you manage them? I'd love to hear your story in the comments.
Note: This approach is intended for those who have been medically cleared and whose ectopic beats have been confirmed as benign by a healthcare provider. Always consult with your doctor about any heart-related concerns.
References
Sankaranarayanan E, Prakash, Ravindra PN, Madanmohan, Anilkumar R, Balachander J. Effect of deep breathing at six breaths per minute on the frequency of premature ventricular complexes. Int J Cardiol. 2006;111(3):450-452. doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.05.075. PMID: 17004338.
Simpson RJ Jr, Cascio WE, Schreiner PJ, Crow RS, Rautaharju PM, Heiss G. Prevalence of premature ventricular contractions in a population of African American and white men and women: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Am Heart J. 2002;143(3):535-540. doi:10.1067/mhj.2002.120298.
Giles K, Green MS. Workup and management of patients with frequent premature ventricular contractions. Can J Cardiol. 2013;29(11):1512-1515. doi:10.1016/j.cjca.2013.08.005.
Waks JW, Josephson ME. Premature Ventricular Complexes - Diagnostic and Therapeutic Considerations. Book: Clinical Arrhythmology and Electrophysiology: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease. 3rd Edition, Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2018:381-401.