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.
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. 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. You should also report any symptoms such as dizziness or fainting. In those with healthy hearts, occasional PVCs are harmless and usually resolve on their own without treatment. Some PVC symptoms can be managed through lifestyle changes — limiting caffeine, tobacco and alcohol and stress, for example.
Treatment for patients who experience PVCs on a regular basis includes medication such as beta blockers and calcium blockers. For patients whose symptoms are severe, a catheter ablation may be recommended.
During catheter ablation, an electrophysiologist uses radiofrequency energy to cauterize the area of the heart where the PVCs originate. In patients with heart problems such as heart failure or heart disease, PVCs may be a sign of a more dangerous heart rhythm to come.
For more information about PVCs, visit our Health Library article on premature ventricular contractions. Premature atrial contractions PACs are premature heartbeats that are similar to PVCs, but occur in the upper chambers of the heart, an area known as the atria. PACs do not typically cause damage to the heart and can occur in healthy individuals with no known heart disease. In select cases, your doctor may want to perform a nuclear stress test or a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging MRI.
Besides revealing an image of the heart's anatomy, an echocardiogram provides a measurement called the left ventricular ejection fraction , or LVEF. Your LVEF reveals how well your heart is pumping blood. A reduced LVEF indicates that your heart muscle not working as well as it should.
Next, an echocardiogram must be ordered to see if an underlying heart problem is present and to measure how well the heart is pumping blood.
Treating PVCs is not a straightforward matter, as their impact can vary from person to person. The bulk of scientific evidence today suggests that PVCs usually aren't inherently dangerous. That doesn't mean, however, that PVCs are to be ignored, especially if they are interfering with the normal pumping function of the heart or are causing significant symptoms.
Frequent PVCs more than 12 per day can also be worrisome, as this is associated with a weakening of the heart muscle and sudden cardiac death. And in all cases of PVCs, potentially reversible causes or lifestyle factors e. Beyond that, the following may be considered. For patients with frequent PVCs, but no symptoms and a normal LVEF, yearly echocardiograms and follow-up with a cardiologist are advised.
Doctors usually start with a beta-blocker or a calcium channel blocker. If one of these medicines does not work, or cannot be tolerated, an antiarrhythmic drug is sometimes tried. Antiarrhythmic drugs work to keep your heart in a regular rhythm, but some are not safe to take if you have underlying heart disease. Also, when taken for PVCs, antiarrhythmic drugs may actually increase the risk of death in certain patients. Radiofrequency ablation is a specialized form of cardiac catheterization that is performed by a heart rhythm specialist called a electrophysiologist.
Painless radiofrequency energy is used to destroy heart tissue deemed to be the source of abnormal electrical signals. This low-risk procedure can be effective in eliminating or greatly reducing PVCs in people who are having severe symptoms. Treating PVCs always involves correcting reversible triggers or causes. While some people may only need regular follow-up with their doctor and possibly an annual echocardiogram, others may need medication or a procedure that uses energy to destroy part of the heart's tissue.
PVCs are abnormal heartbeats that begin in one of your heart's lower chambers. They are common and may cause palpitations, lightheadedness, or no symptoms at all.
Once PVCs are diagnosed, an echocardiogram is typically performed to access the heart's function and structure. The treatment of PVCs is highly variable, ranging from annual checks to taking medications or undergoing an ablation procedure.
PVCs are very common, even among people who are perfectly healthy. Still, PVCs may cause symptoms, and they may indicate that some form of undiagnosed heart disease is present. Finding PVCs should, at the very least, trigger a broader assessment of your heart.
Did you know the most common forms of heart disease are largely preventable? Our guide will show you what puts you at risk, and how to take control of your heart health. Premature ventricular complexes: clinical presentation and diagnostic evaluation. Updated July 15, Marcus GM. Evaluation and management of premature ventricular complexes.
Premature ventricular contractions. Updated July 30, The ubiquitous premature ventricular complex.
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