Ventricular premature beats

[Tracie Lynn]

A ventricular premature beat is an extra heartbeat resulting from abnormal electrical activation originating in the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart) before a normal heartbeat would occur.

The main symptom is a perception of a skipped heartbeat.
Electrocardiography is used to make the diagnosis.
Avoiding things that trigger these beats, such as stress, caffeine, and alcohol, is usually sufficient treatment.

(See also Overview of Abnormal Heart Rhythms.)
Ventricular premature beats are common, particularly among older people. This arrhythmia may be caused by physical or emotional stress, intake of caffeine (in beverages and foods) or alcohol, or use of cold or hay fever remedies containing drugs that stimulate the heart, such as pseudoephedrine . Other causes include coronary artery disease (especially during or shortly after a heart attack) and disorders that cause ventricles to enlarge, such as heart failure and heart valve disorders.