Premature ventricular contractions (Pvcs)

Description

Premature ventricular contractions (Pvcs) are extra heartbeats that begin in one of the heart's two lower pumping chambers (the ventricles). These extra beats disrupt your regular heart rhythm, sometimes causing a sensation of fluttering or a skipped beat in your chest.

Premature ventricular contractions are a common type of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). premature ventricular contractions (Pvcs) are also called:

  • The complex premature ventricular
  • Beats, ventricular premature
  • Extrasystoles ventricular

Occasional premature ventricular contractions in people without heart disease in general is not a concern and it is likely that you do not need treatment. You may need treatment if premature ventricular contractions are frequent or troublesome, or if you have an underlying heart condition.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions often cause few or no symptoms. But the extra beats can cause unusual sensations in the chest, such as:

  • Flutter
  • Strong or jump
  • Skipped beats or missed beats
  • The increased awareness of the heartbeat

When to see a doctor

If you feel palpitations, pounding or a sensation of an irregular heartbeat in your chest, talk to your health care provider. A doctor can determine if the feelings are due to a heart disease or other health problems. Similar signs and symptoms may be caused by other conditions, such as anxiety, low red blood cell count (anemia), overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), and infections.

Causes

To understand the cause of premature ventricular contractions (Pvcs) can help you to learn more about how the heart normally beats.

The heart consists of four chambers: two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles).

The heart rate is controlled by a natural pacemaker (the sinus node) in the right upper chamber (atrium). The sinus node sends electrical signals which typically start with each beat of the heart. These electrical signals move through the atria, causing the muscles of the heart to contract and pump blood into the ventricles.

Next, the signals that arrive at a group of cells called the atrioventricular (AV) node, where they slow down. This slight delay allows the ventricles to fill with blood. When the electrical signals reach the ventricles, the chambers to contract and pump blood to the lungs or to the rest of the body.

In a typical heart, this heart signaling process usually goes well, which results in a resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute.

PVCs are irregular contractions that start in the ventricles instead of the atria. The contractions tend to beat earlier than the next expected beat of the heart.

The cause of premature ventricular contractions are not always clear. Certain things, including diseases of the heart, or the changes in the body can cause the cells in the lower chambers of the heart electrically unstable. Disease of the heart or the healing you can cause the heart to signal loss.

Premature ventricular contractions can be caused by:

  • Certain medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants and antihistamines
  • Alcohol and drug abuse
  • Stimulants such as caffeine or tobacco
  • The increased levels of adrenaline in the body due to exercise or anxiety
  • Injury to the heart muscle due to disease

Risk factors

Certain lifestyle choices and health conditions may make a person more likely to develop premature ventricular contractions (Pvcs).

Risk factors for the PVCs are:

  • Caffeine
  • Tobacco
  • Alcohol
  • Stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamines
  • Exercise — if you have certain types of Pvc
  • Anxiety
  • Heart attack
  • Heart disease, including congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and a weakening of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)

Complications

Frequent premature ventricular contractions (Pvcs) or certain patterns of them could increase the risk of developing irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias), or the weakening of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy).

Rarely, when accompanied by diseases of the heart, frequent premature contractions can lead to a chaos, dangerous heart rhythms and possibly sudden cardiac death.

Premature ventricular contractions (Pvcs)

Diagnosis

To diagnose premature ventricular contractions (Pvcs), a provider of health care tend to listen to their heart with a stethoscope. You will be asked questions about their lifestyle habits and medical history.

Tests are done to confirm a diagnosis of premature ventricular contractions.

Tests

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) can detect the extra beats and identify the pattern and the source.

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a quick and painless test to record the electrical activity of the heart. Sticky patches (electrodes) are placed on the chest and sometimes the arms and legs. The wires connect the electrodes to a computer, which displays the results of the test. One can show whether the heart is beating too fast, too slow or not at all.

If you do not have premature ventricular contractions (Pvcs) very often, a standard may not detect. Your doctor may ask you to use a portable device at home for more information about your beats. Portable devices include:

  • Holter Monitor. This portable device can be used for a day or more, to record the heart's activity during daily activities. Some personal devices, such as smartwatches, offering portable monitoring. Ask your health care provider if this is an option for you.
  • Monitor events. This portable device is designed to be worn for up to 30 days or until you have an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) or symptoms. You usually press a button when symptoms occur. But some monitors automatically sense the irregular beats of the heart, and then start recording.

Your doctor also may recommend an exercise stress test. This test often consists of walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike while ago. An exercise stress test can help determine if exercise triggers your PVCs .

Treatment

The majority of people with premature ventricular contractions (Pvcs), which do not have heart disease, do not need treatment. If you have heart disease, Pvcs can lead to more serious heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias). The treatment depends on the underlying cause.

A health care provider may recommend the following treatments for PVCs :

  • Life-style changes. The elimination of common premature ventricular contraction (PVC) triggers such as caffeine or tobacco-can decrease the number of extra beats and decrease symptoms.
  • Drugs. Blood pressure medications may be prescribed to reduce premature contractions. Those used for the Pvc may include beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers. Medicines to control heart rhythm may also be prescribed if you have a type of irregular heartbeat called ventricular tachycardia or the frequency of Pvc that interfere with the function of the heart.
  • Radiofrequency catheter ablation. If lifestyle changes and medications don't help to reduce the Pvc , a catheter procedure can be done to stop the extra beats. In this procedure, a health care provider, threads of one or more thin, flexible tubes (catheters) through an artery, usually in the groin, and guided to the heart. Sensors (electrodes) on the tip of the catheter, the use of heat (radio frequency) energy to create small scars in the heart of blocks of irregular electrical signals and restore the heart rhythm.

Self-care

The following self-care strategies that can help control premature ventricular contractions (Pvcs) and to improve the health of the heart:

  • Track your triggers. If you have frequent Pvcs , keep a diary of the day and the time of symptoms can be helpful. A diary can help to identify the foods, beverages, or activities that trigger premature ventricular contractions.
  • Modify their use of substances. Caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs stimulants are the triggers of premature ventricular contractions. Reduce or avoid such items may reduce the symptoms of PVC.
  • Manage stress. Anxiety can cause irregular heartbeat. Find ways to help reduce emotional stress. Do more exercise, the practice of mindfulness and connecting with others in support groups are some of the ways to tame your stress. If you need help managing anxiety, talk with your health care provider about strategies and medications that can help.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your care provider of the family. You may be referred to a doctor trained in heart disease (cardiologist).

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of:

  • Their symptoms, how they feel and when they began
  • Key medical information, including other recent health conditions, and family history of heart disease
  • All the drugs, vitamins, and other supplements that you take and their dosages
  • Questions to ask your health care provider

Bring a friend or family member with you, if possible, to help you remember the information that you receive.

For premature ventricular contractions, questions to ask your health care provider include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms?
  • What tests do I need?
  • What treatment approach do you recommend, if any?
  • What lifestyle changes can I do to reduce the symptoms?
  • I need to eliminate the consumption of alcohol and caffeine?
  • Am I at risk of long-term complications?
  • How are you going to check my health over time?
  • Is it necessary to adjust the medications that I am taking for other health conditions?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to ask questions such as:

  • Do your symptoms come and go? If so, when are they likely to occur?
  • Do you drink alcohol? If so, how much?
  • Do you use caffeine? If so, how much?
  • Do you smoke or use other nicotine products?
  • Does the use of illegal drugs?
  • How often do you feel stressed or anxious? What can you do to manage these feelings?
Symptoms and treatment of Premature ventricular contractions (Pvcs)