What Is Premature Contraction
Have you ever felt like your heart was missing a beat? Chances are, what you noticed was a heartbeat that happened earlier than usual. Premature contraction can occur in the upper (atria) or lower (ventricle) chambers of your heart. With this “extra” rhythm, a break usually causes your next normal heartbeat to become stronger. In reality, your heart doesn`t skip a beat. Instead, you probably had a premature contraction. PVC are abnormal contractions that begin in the ventricles. These extra contractions usually beat earlier than the next expected regular heartbeat. And they often interrupt the normal order of pumping, which are first the atria, then the ventricles. Experts aren`t sure what causes the extra beat known as PVC. They tend to happen for no real reason, but certain triggers and health problems may play a role. These include: Premature ventricular contractions may be associated with: Patients with PAC often have no symptoms and are diagnosed randomly. Those with symptoms often complain of a skipped heartbeat or an extra beat, also known as palpitations.
These are caused by premature contraction in the heart cycle, resulting in an ineffective pulse or heartbeat. These symptoms often occur at night or during relaxation, when the natural pacemaker, the sinus node, slows down. Patients with PAC may also experience dizziness or chest pain. Rarely, premature contractions can be caused by a disease or injury to the heart. If your doctor suspects this possibility, he or she may suggest tests to monitor your heart function. To diagnose premature strokes of contraction, your doctor may use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess abnormalities in your heart. Sometimes your doctor may not be able to detect irregularities in your heart rate during your office assessment. In such cases, your doctor may recommend other testing devices that can help monitor your heart outside of the office. Devices may include: Premature ventricular contractions (PVC) are a type of abnormal heart rhythm. Its heart has 4 chambers: 2 upper atria and 2 lower ventricles.
Usually, a special group of cells starts the signal for your heart rate. These cells are located in the sinus node (AS) of the right atrium. The signal moves quickly through the conductive system of your heart. It moves to the left and right ventricles. As it moves, the signal triggers the contraction of nearby parts of your heart. This allows your heart to squeeze in a coordinated way. Premature ventricular contractions are common – they occur in many people. They are also called: If you have ever had a floating heart or noticed that your heart seems to skip a beat, you may experience premature ventricular contractions (PVC), a type of arrhythmia relatively common in adults and children. Often, premature contracting strokes have no symptoms. However, you may experience unusual sensations in your chest, such as: Premature contraction beats occur when your heart sends signals that can disrupt your heart rate. This can happen as a result of damage to your heart or other diseases.
The exact causes and triggers of premature contractions are not fully understood, however, some factors are associated with premature contractions, such as: If a cause of premature contractions is discovered, your doctor may recommend a treatment plan. A similar condition – premature ventricular contraction (PVC) – begins in the lower chambers called the “ventricles” of your heart. With a PVC, the signal to start the heartbeat comes from one of the ventricles instead. This signal is premature, which means that it occurs before the SA node has had a chance to trigger. The signal travels through the rest of your heart and can cause a different heartbeat than normal. Depending on when the premature beat occurs, you may not feel anything at all, a skipped heartbeat, drowsiness, shortness of breath, or even chest pain. Premature ventricular contractions (CSPs) are the most common cause of irregular heart rhythms. The heart rate is generated by an electrical signal produced in an area of specialized cells in the upper right chamber of the heart, the right atrium. The electrical signal travels through the heart to the atrioventricular (AV) node, a group of specialized cells in the center of the heart. From the AV node, the signal leads along special fibers integrated into the heart walls to the ventricles, the lower chambers.
When electric current arrives in the ventricles, it causes them to contract and pump oxygen-rich blood into the body. .