Premature Ventricular Contraction

Premature Ventricular Contraction

Premature ventricular contraction (PVC) is a common kind of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). These contractions are extra heartbeats that start in the ventricles of the heart and occur too early in the normal sequence.

During the PVC, the heart’s normal electrical pathway is not used, so the beat is shorter and less effective. In most cases, these contractions come and go and do not require treatment.

What are the causes?

Common causes of the condition include:

  • Smoking.
  • Drinking alcohol.
  • Certain medicines.
  • Some illegal drugs.
  • Stress.
  • Caffeine.

Certain medical conditions can also cause PVCs:

  • Heart failure.
  • Heart attack, or coronary artery disease.
  • Heart valve problems.
  • Changes in minerals in the blood (electrolytes).
  • Low blood oxygen levels or high carbon dioxide levels.

In many cases, the cause of this condition is not known.

What are the signs or symptoms?

The main symptom of this condition is fast or skipped heartbeats (palpitations). Other symptoms include:

  • Chest pain.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Feeling tired.
  • Dizziness.
  • Difficulty exercising.

In some cases, there are no symptoms.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition may be diagnosed based on:

  • Your medical history.
  • A physical exam. During the exam, the health care provider will check for irregular heartbeats.
  • Tests, such as:
    • An ECG (electrocardiogram) to monitor the electrical activity of your heart.
    • Ambulatory cardiac monitor. This device records your heartbeats for 24 hours or more.
    • Stress tests to see how exercise affects your heart rhythm and blood supply.
    • Echocardiogram. This test uses sound waves (ultrasound) to produce an image of your heart.
    • Electrophysiology study (EPS). This test checks for electrical problems in your heart.

How is this treated?

Treatment for this condition depends on any underlying conditions, the type of PVCs that you are having, and how much the symptoms are interfering with your daily life.

Possible treatments include:

  • Avoiding things that cause premature contractions (triggers). These include caffeine and alcohol.
  • Taking medicines if symptoms are severe or if the extra heartbeats are frequent.
  • Getting treatment for underlying conditions that cause PVCs.
  • Having an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), if you are at risk for a serious arrhythmia. The ICD is a small device that is inserted into your chest to monitor your heartbeat. When it senses an irregular heartbeat, it sends a shock to bring the heartbeat back to normal.
  • Having a procedure to destroy the portion of the heart tissue that sends out abnormal signals (catheter ablation).

In some cases, no treatment is required.

Follow these instructions at home:

Alcohol use

  • Do not drink alcohol if:
    • Your health care provider tells you not to drink.
    • You are pregnant, may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant.
    • Alcohol triggers your episodes.
  • If you drink alcohol, limit how much you have. You may drink:
    • 0–1 drink a day for women.
    • 0–2 drinks a day for men.
  • Be aware of how much alcohol is in your drink. In the U.S., one drink equals one typical bottle of beer (12 oz), one-half glass of wine (5 oz), or one shot of hard liquor (1½ oz).

General instructions

  • Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
  • Find healthy ways to manage stress. Avoid stressful situations when possible.
  • Exercise regularly. Ask your health care provider what type of exercise is safe for you.
  • Try to get at least 7–9 hours of sleep each night, or as much as recommended by your health care provider.
  • If caffeine triggers episodes of PVC, do not eat, drink, or use anything with caffeine in it.
  • Do not use illegal drugs.
  • Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
  • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if you:

  • Feel palpitations.

Get help right away if you:

  • Have chest pain.
  • Have shortness of breath.
  • Have sweating for no reason.
  • Have nausea and vomiting.
  • Become light-headed or you faint.

Summary

  • A premature ventricular contraction (PVC) is a common kind of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).
  • In most cases, these contractions come and go and do not require treatment.
  • You may need to wear an ambulatory cardiac monitor. This records your heartbeats for 24 hours or more.
  • Treatment depends on any underlying conditions, the type of PVCs that you are having, and how much the symptoms are interfering with your daily life.
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