Premature Ventricular Contractions: Causes and Treatment

Premature ventricular contractions don't typically cause severe symptoms or serious health concerns, though they might exacerbate existing heart conditions.

At CardioVascular Health Clinic, we offer comprehensive heart care services, helping our diverse patient community address both common and complex heart health issues.

What Are Premature Ventricular Contractions?

Premature ventricular contractions are irregular heartbeats that are triggered by electrical signals from the lower heart chambers instead of the upper chambers. They don't typically cause significant symptoms or necessarily lead to medical complications. However, if they persist for years, the heart muscle might weaken.

Most people will have a premature ventricular contraction at some point – roughly 75% of the global population will experience heartbeat irregularities. The following conditions can trigger premature ventricular contractions:

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Low electrolytes
• Heart attack
• Coronary artery disease

What Are Symptoms of Premature Ventricular Contractions?

Premature ventricular contractions don't always cause detectable symptoms, but they might cause a fluttering sensation or the feeling that the heart is skipping a beat. However, more noticeable symptoms might include the following:

• Lightheadedness
• Racing heart
• Throbbing in the neck

The presence of additional heart conditions might lead to feeling short of breath.

Premature Atrial Contractions Vs. Premature Ventricular Contractions

Premature atrial contractions differ from premature ventricular contractions in that premature atrial contractions occur as a result of premature electrical signals from the upper heart chambers. Both issues trigger unnecessary heartbeats, and both are sometimes symptomless.

Premature atrial contractions and premature ventricular contractions are two of the most prevalent types of arrhythmias.

Both issues are triggered by premature electrical activation in your heart. This anomaly leads to premature heart muscle contractions, which causes more heartbeats than necessary. When the heart beats unnecessarily, the natural heart rhythm is disrupted. Additional heartbeats can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle over time.

Premature atrial contractions and premature ventricular contractions are fairly common conditions that generally don't require treatment. However, your physician might recommend medication if premature atrial contractions occur frequently.

Treatment for Premature Ventricular Contractions

During your doctor's visit, you will be asked about your symptoms and health history. Your doctor will also listen to your heartbeat and assess any possible irregularities.

Your doctor might suggest other screenings if you experience premature ventricular contractions frequently. 

• Blood tests. The blood tests screen for electrolyte deficiencies and check hormone balance.  
• Cardiac stress tests. Cardiac stress tests check your blood flow and heart rate during physical exertion. 
• Medical imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography scans (CT), and ultrasound imaging allow your medical team to visualize your heart and its function.

Additional tests might include imaging scans like electrocardiography (EKG) so that your doctor can detect additional heartbeats. However, patients who experience premature ventricular contractions erratically might be asked to wear a device like a Holter monitor that measures cardiac activity over the course of multiple days.

If your premature ventricular contractions are rare, your physician might not recommend treatment. However, persistent, frequent premature ventricular contractions could cause structural damage to the heart, so medications that manage heart rate or blood pressure might be appropriate.

If you are concerned about your heart health, please contact our dedicated representatives for a thorough evaluation today.