Antiarrhythmic medications may also be used. Other lifestyle changes may include reducing alcohol or energy drink consumption.įor people experiencing frequent PVCs, medications such as beta blockers, which slow heart rate, or calcium channel blockers, which relax the heart, may reduce the number of extra beats. “If people only experience them when they have a large cup of coffee, then reducing caffeine intake is likely the answer,” Bentz says. Treatment for PVCs depends upon their cause. In some cases, doctors may order an exercise stress test to see whether PVCs become worse with exertion. “That will quantify how many PVCs someone is having and the frequency of their PVCs,” Hussain said. A physician may recommend a wearable cardiac (Holter) monitor that will record a person’s heartbeats over a 24-hour period. The first step in diagnosing PVCs - and learning whether they need treatment - is an electrocardiogram (ECG), performed in a primary care doctor’s office. So too should people who experience symptoms, which can include chest pain and shortness of breath, in addition to palpitations or skipped heartbeats. People who have experienced a prior heart attack - or those already diagnosed with cardiomyopathy - should also take PVCs seriously. The more PVCs occur, the more they can potentially cause a condition called cardiomyopathy (a weakened heart muscle). “If more than 10% to 15% of a person’s heartbeats in 24 hours are PVCs, that’s excessive,” Bentz said. PVCs become more of a concern if they happen frequently. The causes of PVCs often varies depending on the age of the patient. Sometimes electrolyte imbalances can cause PVCs. ![]() Others may be side effects from certain medications. They may occur in high-adrenaline situations, triggered by stress or anxiety. “They are not always dangerous,” Hussain said.Ĭauses of PVCs can vary. “That extra beat is almost always followed by a pause, which occurs when the heart resets back to its normal beat.”įor people who feel PVCs, they can seem frightening. “A PVC is a wider looking heartbeat,” said Barbara Bentz, a certified registered nurse practitioner with the Heart and Vascular Institute. PVCs most often originate in the bottom chambers of the heart. “Some people feel them, but others don’t.” Sarah Hussain, a cardiac electrophysiologist with Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute.
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