DEFINITION: Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are extra, abnormal beats that originate in the ventricles. These extra beats disrupt the normal rhythm of the heart, sometimes making the patient feel that the heartbeat is especially pronounced or that there is a missed beat. Premature ventricular beats are common – the vast majority of people will have them at some time. Premature ventricular beats are also known as: ventricular preterm contractions If you only have occasional premature ventricular beats and everything else is healthy, there is usually nothing to worry about and no treatment is needed. If your premature ventricular beats occur frequently, or if they are associated with other heart conditions, you will need to be treated in order to make you feel better and to help treat other underlying heart conditions. Symptoms: Premature ventricular contractions usually have no symptoms. However, there may be a strange sensation in the chest, such as: 1. a particularly pronounced heartbeat 2. a fluttering sensation 3. a thumping or jumping sensation 4. a leaky heartbeat 5. a more pronounced sensation of the heartbeat When to Seek Medical Attention: If you feel that your heartbeat is particularly pronounced, that there is a leaky heartbeat, or that there is a strange sensation in your chest, you should seek medical attention. You may want to know the reason for these symptoms. Premature ventricular beats may be the cause of these symptoms, but they can also be caused by other things, including other heart rhythm abnormalities, serious heart disease, anxiety, anemia, or infection. Causes: The heart consists of 4 chambers – 2 above (atria) and 2 below (ventricles). Normally, the heart’s rhythm is controlled by the sinus node (SA node), a specialized area of cells in the right atrium. This natural pacemaker generates electrical impulses that trigger a normal heartbeat. The electrical impulses emanate from the sinus node and travel through the atria to the ventricles, causing the ventricles and atria to contract sequentially to pump blood to the lungs and other parts of the body. Premature ventricular contractions are abnormal contractions that begin in the ventricles. These extra contractions are usually earlier than normal contractions. They usually disrupt the normal sequence of contractions of the chambers of the heart; normally, the atria contract first, then the ventricles. This extra, asynchronous contraction usually makes the pumping of blood throughout the body less efficient. Why do the extra contractions occur? The reason is not clear. Certain triggers, heart disease, or physical changes may destabilize the electrophysiological properties of the ventricular cardiomyocytes. Underlying heart disease or scarring may also lead to abnormal conduction pathways for electrical impulses. Premature ventricular contractions may be associated with: 1. Chemical changes or imbalances in the body 2. Certain medications, including those commonly used to treat asthma 3. Alcohol or drugs 4. Elevated levels of adrenaline in the body caused by factors such as caffeine, tobacco, exercise, or anxiety 5. Damage to the heart muscle caused by conditions such as coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, high blood pressure, or heart failure Risk Factors: The following stimulants, diseases Risk factors: The following stimulants, diseases, and triggers can increase the risk of premature ventricular contractions: 1. Caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol 2. Exercise 3. High blood pressure 4. Anxiety 5. Underlying heart disease, including congenital heart disease, coronary heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, and myocardial weakness (cardiomyopathy) Complications: If you have frequent premature ventricular contractions or certain types of premature ventricular contractions, the risk of developing arrhythmias or myocardial weakness ( cardiomyopathy) there is an increased risk. Rarely, when accompanied by underlying heart disease, frequent premature ventricular beats can lead to disorganized, dangerous heart rhythms and may even cause cardiac death.