It’s not always love when your heart skips a beat. Here’s what you need to know about PVCs, including triggers, symptoms and treatment. Show
If you’ve ever had a fluttering heart, or noticed that your heart seems to skip a beat, you might be experiencing premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), a relatively common type of arrhythmia in both adults and children. MORE FROM MICHIGAN: Sign up for our weekly newsletter PVCs are the result of extra, abnormal heartbeats that begin in the ventricles, or lower pumping chambers, and disrupt your regular heart rhythm, which is controlled by a natural pacemaker known as the sinus node. The sinus node creates electrical impulses that travel across the atria to the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood out to your lungs and body in what is known as normal sinus rhythm. In the case of PVCs, the heart doesn’t actually skip a beat. Instead, an extra beat comes sooner than normal. Then there’s typically a pause that causes the next beat to be more forceful, which is what most people detect. Although the range differs from person to person, patients with PVCs that comprise 20 percent or more of total heartbeats typically are most at risk for some of the more serious complications associated with the condition. PVCs 101Heart disease or scarring that interferes with the heart’s normal electrical impulses can cause PVCs. Certain medications, alcohol, stress, exercise, caffeine or low blood oxygen, which is caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or pneumonia, can also trigger them. Symptoms associated with PVCs include:
In individuals with these symptoms, PVCs are diagnosed through an electrocardiogram or a heart monitor worn by the patient. If you have normal heart function, PVCs are typically nothing to worry about. But for those with frequent PVCs or an underlying heart condition, such as congenital heart disease, PVCs can lead to cardiomyopathy (a weakened heart muscle) or a more severe type of arrhythmia. For these individuals, the condition is typically treated with medication (such as beta-blockers) or ablation. If you have symptoms associated with PVCs, be sure to talk to a specialist about a potential underlying cause that needs to be treated. What are ventricular premature complexes? Your heart is responsible for pumping blood and oxygen throughout your body. The heart performs this function by expanding and contracting. This movement is what produces your heartbeat. Your heartbeat is regulated by a unique electrical system. Although this electrical system consistently produces the signals needed for your heart to beat in a predicable manner, the signal can become disrupted at times. When this happens, an irregular heartbeat can occur, and it may feel as if your heart has skipped a beat. Various health conditions can disrupt your heartbeat. Some are life-threatening, but others can be quite benign. Ventricular premature complexes are one example of a benign condition that can cause an irregular heartbeat. In fact, most people experience this condition at some point in their lives. This condition can occur at random times or in regular patterns. Ventricular premature complexes are also known as:
If you experience ventricular premature complexes, you may not notice any symptoms. If symptoms are noticeable, you may feel like your heart is fluttering, pounding, or jumping in your chest. It might also seem as though your heart has skipping a beat. In some cases, the heartbeat that occurs after the ventricular premature complex may become more forceful — so much so that you feel pain or discomfort in your chest. If you have frequent or prolonged ventricular premature complexes, this may reduce your heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently. This can also cause additional symptoms, which include:
These symptoms are serious and should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. Ventricular premature complexes occur when the lower chambers of your heart contract before they should. When this happens, your heartbeat becomes out of sync. You may feel a regular heartbeat, an extra heartbeat, a pause, and then a stronger heartbeat. The extra heartbeat is the ventricular premature complex. It isn’t as strong as a normal beat and doesn’t pump all of the blood out of the heart. This causes the heartbeat that follows to be stronger because more force is needed to pump the extra blood out of the heart. Even though ventricular premature complexes are common, doctors aren’t always able to identify what causes them. Factors that may contribute to the development of ventricular premature complexes include:
Anyone can develop ventricular premature complexes, though the condition is more common in people over the age of 50. Ventricular premature complexes are commonly seen in people with heart disease. Those who have a family history of cardiac problems may also be more likely to develop this condition. Ventricular premature complexes can be difficult to diagnose. If these irregular heartbeats occur randomly, your doctor may not be able to detect them during your appointment. If you report symptoms of ventricular premature complexes to your doctor, they may order additional tests to confirm the diagnosis. These tests may include: Electrocardiogram (ECG)This imaging test records the electrical actions of the heart, including the speed of the heartbeats. EchocardiogramThis imaging technique uses sound waves to project a moving picture of your heart onto a screen, providing the doctor with very detailed images of the heart’s chambers and valves. Coronary angiographyIn this test, a catheter is placed in an artery, usually in the groin or the arm, and then carefully moved until it’s in the heart. A contrast agent is then pumped into the catheter and monitored through X-ray images, allowing doctors to observe how blood is flowing through your heart. Holter monitorThis is a device that your doctor will give you to take home and wear. It records your heart’s activity over a 24-hour period. Event recorderSimilar to a Holter monitor, this is a device that you wear. It records heart activity when you experience a skipped heartbeat. Treatment for this condition will depend on your overall health and the cause of your ventricular premature complexes. Lifestyle changesIf you’re healthy and don’t have any underlying heart problems, you may not need treatment. Your doctor may simply recommend that you avoid stimulants, such as caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol. Your doctor may also recommend that you find ways to control your stress and anxiety levels. MedicationsIf your ventricular premature complexes are caused by an underlying health condition, your doctor may recommend certain medications to treat it. AblationIf medications aren’t successful, your doctor may suggest a procedure known as ablation. During this procedure, radiofrequency waves are used to destroy the damaged heart tissue that is causing the extra heartbeats to occur. Prognosis for those with ventricular premature complexes is quite good. In many cases, these people won’t require treatment. If you have heart disease or other health issues, treatment for these issues should alleviate symptoms of ventricular premature complexes. You can help prevent ventricular premature complexes by making lifestyle changes. Most importantly, you should limit caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco use. Try to also find healthy ways to manage your anxiety and stress, such as exercising or talking with a trusted friend. What does sinus tachycardia with PVCs mean?Sinus tachycardia with PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) and sinus tachycardia with PACs (premature atrial contractions) can give you a feeling of a racing or pounding heart (palpitations). However, these extra heartbeats are normally not a cause for concern.
What is frequent ventricular premature complexes?Overview. Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are extra heartbeats that begin in one of the heart's two lower pumping chambers (ventricles). These extra beats disrupt the regular heart rhythm, sometimes causing a sensation of a fluttering or a skipped beat in the chest.
Can you live a long life with frequent PVCs?PVCs can increase your risk of sudden cardiac death, especially if they occur frequently. According to one study, experiencing more than 12 PVCs daily increases your risk of sudden cardiac death. However, they don't lead to sudden cardiac death in most people.
How serious is sinus rhythm with premature ventricular contractions?If you have PVCs, but you are otherwise healthy, there is usually no reason for concern and no need for treatment. If you have frequent symptomatic PVCs, or PVCs with heart disease, you may need treatment.
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Sinus tachycardia with frequent premature ventricular complexes
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