For these individuals, the condition is typically treated with medication such as beta-blockers or ablation. If you have symptoms associated with PVCs, be sure to talk to a specialist about a potential underlying cause that needs to be treated. Heart Health. 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. Your heart has 4 chambers: 2 upper atria and 2 lower ventricles. Normally, a special group of cells begins the signal to start your heartbeat. These cells are in the sinoatrial SA node in the right atrium. It travels to the left and right ventricle. As it travels, the signal triggers nearby parts of your heart to contract.
This allows your heart to squeeze in a coordinated way. During a premature ventricular contraction, the signal to start your heartbeat instead comes from one of the ventricles. This signal is premature, meaning it happens before the SA node has had a chance to fire. The signal spreads through the rest of your heart, causing a heartbeat. If this happens very soon after the previous heartbeat, your heart will push out very little blood.
This causes a feeling of a pause between beats. If it happens a little later, your heart pushes out an almost normal amount of blood. This leads to a feeling of an extra heartbeat. 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. Consumption of caffeinated products and cardiac ectopy. J Am Heart Assoc.
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