Ask An Expert: Premature Ventricular Contraction

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Ask An Expert: Premature Ventricular Contraction

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Question:

How serious is premature ventricular contraction?

Answer:

If premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are the only heart-related problem on your mind, then the news is very good — they probably are not serious at all.

But if you are having lots of PVCs, and your heart also has been damaged by heart attacks or other disease, then the PVCs might be a clue that your risk for serious complications is real.

Virtually everyone has premature beats every now and then, either from the top part of the heart (atria) or the lower part (ventricles). Most are never noticed, but some may cause a sensation of "skipping a beat." That sensation alone, without any other evidence of heart disease, does not carry any increased risk of heart problems.

But if you have many PVCs in a row, without any normal beats in between, your heart might not pump blood very effectively. This can lead to a drop in blood pressure and fainting. So, PVCs in someone who has fainted or comes close to fainting warrants further evaluation. This usually starts with a "holter" monitor. There are several types. They all have the same purpose — to record your heart rhythm when you go about your normal day.

Even if you are having occasional PVCs, or just two in a row, they may be a marker for higher risk if you have a damaged heart — i.e., they identify you as someone who has more severe disease and a higher risk of problems, even if the PVCs themselves are not going to hurt you.

Finally, PVCs could be the result of low potassium levels or some other chemical imbalance. Your doctor may want to do some blood testing, particularly if you are on a water pill (diuretic).

Thomas Lee, M.D., is the chief executive officer for Partners Community HealthCare Inc. He is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is an internist and cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. Lee is the chairman of the Cardiovascular Measurement Assessment Panel of the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

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Last updated:	April 13, 2007
Reviewed By:	Faculty of Harvard Medical School

Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.

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