Premature ventricular complexes

PVCs are usually asymptomatic, but they can result in:

Palpitations
A sensation of skipped heartbeats
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Fatigue
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Visit a Cardiologist for proper diagnosis and treatment if you have any of these symptoms

Premature ventricular complexes may be caused by:

Many medications
Tobacco smoking
Alcohol and cocaine consumption
Electrolyte imbalance (ex: hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia)
Hypoxia
Volume overload
Exercise
Risk factors:

Old age (>75 years)
History of heart disease
High blood pressure
Taller height
Decreased physical activity

Patients may be asymptomatic and be identified while doing a routine examination or they may have symptoms.

Electrocardiogram (a simple test to examine the rhythm and electrical activity of the heart using skin-attached sensors to detect the electrical signals produced by the heart during each beat). It can be used alone for diagnosis, this may be done at the doctor’s clinic, or he may ask you to use a portable one for monitoring throughout the day to know the frequency of the heart rhythm disturbance.
Echocardiogram (a type of ultrasound scan that is used to examine the heart valves and how it pumps blood to the body to know if there’s structural heart disease).
Magnetic resonance imaging “MRI” (an imaging technique that uses magnetic waves to get a detailed image of the heart to diagnose any other existing heart disease that causes this condition).
Laboratory tests (a blood sample is used to measure the levels of potassium, magnesium, thyroid-stimulating hormone,..etc).

In Asymptomatic patients or patients whose symptoms are not bothersome with no underlying heart disease, and low frequency of PVCs, there’s no need for treatment.

If the case is due to an underlying cause (ex: Electrolyte imbalance, medications use/abuse, structural heart disease), this cause should be treated first.



Treatment options:

Medications: The Cardiologist may prescribe medications such as Atenolol, Carvedilol, Metoprolol, Sotalol, Verapamil, and Diltiazem, If these medications didn’t improve the symptoms other ones may be prescribed such as Amiodarone, Flecainide, and Propafenone.
Catheter ablation: A procedure in which a catheter is used to remove the small parts in the heart tissues that cause extra electric signals and beats.