(Ventricular Premature Beats, Premature Ventricular Contractions, Ventricular Ectopic Beats)
RELATED ITEMS:
Arrhythmia Medications
Abnormal Heart Beats in Women
by Laurie B. Rosenblum, MPH
Definition
A premature ventricular beat (PVB) is an extra heartbeat caused by abnormal electrical activity that starts in the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart) before a normal heartbeat occurs. This type of beat may not be as effective in pumping blood as a normal heartbeat. Because the PVB interferes with the heart’s normal rhythm and there is a pause before the next heartbeat, it may feel like a heartbeat is skipped.
PVBs are common, especially among the elderly. They can occur in people who are healthy, in which case they are harmless. However, when they occur after a heart attack or heart surgery they can lead to dangerous heart rhythms, which in some cases can cause sudden death. You should contact your doctor right away if you have PVBs after a heart attack or heart surgery.
Copyright © 2005 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. www.nucleusinc.com
Causes
The causes of PVBs include:
- Physical or emotional stress
- Physical exercise
- Caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (eg, cocaine, amphetamines)
- Certain medications, especially those that stimulate the heart
- Heart disease:
- Disorders that cause the ventricles to get larger (eg, heart failure)
Risk Factors
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.
The following factors increase your chance of developing PVBs:
- Age: Frequency increases with age; PVBs are most common in the elderly
- Sex: More common in men than women
- Race: African Americans have a much higher risk than white people
- Heart disease
- Use of caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
Symptoms
In many cases, there are no symptoms. When symptoms do occur they can include:
- Feeling the heart beating (palpitations)
- Feeling of a skipped or missed heart beat
In people with heart disease, PVBs can cause decreased blood flow from the heart to other parts of the body. This can produce dizziness and fainting.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. If you have heart disease, you should see a cardiologist.
Tests may include:
- Lab Tests:
- For electrolyte levels, especially potassium and magnesium
- For medication levels in people taking medication that may affect heart rhythms
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) –shows the electrical activity of the heart rhythm and rate
- Continuous Cardiac Monitoring (eg, Ambulatory or Holter Monitoring) –this may be used if you have symptoms but heart rhythm disturbance does not show up on an ECG; this type of monitoring is helpful because it measures heart activity over a longer period of time (eg, 24 hours)
- Echocardiogram –shows an image and function of heart structures using ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves)
Treatment
In most cases, no treatment is needed. However, it can be helpful to reduce stress and avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. If a medication you are taking may be causing the PVBs, talk with your doctor about whether you should reduce the dose or change medications.
You may need to take medication to control the PVBs if you have significant symptoms from PVBs, if you have heart disease, or if the pattern of the PVBs indicates a risk of developing more serious heart rhythm problems. Beta-blockers are generally tried first since they are relatively safe medications. Antiarrhythmic drugs may be used, but they may also increase the chances of developing dangerous heart rhythms. Other medications that may be used include calcium channel blockers. Talk with your doctor about the best treatment for you.
Prevention
To help reduce your chances of having PVBs:
- If you smoke, quit
- If you consume caffeine and/or alcohol, do so in moderation
RESOURCES:
American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Health Network
http://www.canadian-health-network.ca
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
http://ww2.heartandstroke.ca
References:
Ectopic beats. Your Heart website. Available at: http://www.yourheart.org.uk/arrhythmias0... . Accessed September 22, 2005
Selzman KA, Gettes LS. Exercise-induced premature ventricular beats: Should we do anything differently? Circulation. 2004;109:2374-2375.
Stahmer S, Williams E. Premature ventricular contraction. eMedicine website. Available at: http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic773.... . Accessed October 1, 2005.
Ventricular premature beats. Merck Manual – Second Home Edition website. Available at: http://www.merck.com/mmhe/print/sec03/ch... . Accessed September 22, 2005.
Last reviewed March 2007 by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD
All EBSCO Publishing proprietary, consumer health and medical information found on this site is accredited by URAC. URAC's Health Web Site Accreditation Program requires compliance with 53 rigorous standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audits.
To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at HLEditorialTeam@ebscohost.com.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
