

Occasionally, the heart’s electrical signals get caught in a little short-circuit loop. Sometimes, it's just a single skipped beat, but arrhythmias can last minutes, hours, days and possibly years. Heart arrhythmias are caused by electrical problems. Remember that a heart arrhythmia is different from a heart attack. Heart arrhythmias occur when the heart beats too quickly, too slowly or irregularly. In particular, we specialize in catheter ablation, which offers the possibility to cure common heart conditions. Sensors (electrodes) on the tip of the catheter use heat (radiofrequency) energy to create tiny scars in the heart to block irregular electrical signals and restore the heart rhythm.At the University of Chicago Medicine Center for Arrhythmia Care, our team concentrates on advanced therapies for complex arrhythmias, namely atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. In this procedure, a health care provider threads one or more thin, flexible tubes (catheters) through an artery, usually in the groin, and guides them to the heart. If lifestyle changes and medications don't help reduce the PVCs, a catheter procedure may be done to stop the extra beats. Drugs to control the heart rhythm also may be prescribed if you have a type of irregular heartbeat called ventricular tachycardia or frequent PVCs that interfere with heart function. Those used for PVCs may include beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Blood pressure medications may be prescribed to reduce the premature contractions. Eliminating common premature ventricular contraction (PVC) triggers - such as caffeine or tobacco - may reduce the number of extra beats and lessen symptoms. Treatment depends on the underlying cause.Ī health care provider may recommend the following treatment for frequent PVCs: If you have heart disease, PVCs can lead to more-serious heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias). Most people with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) who don't have heart disease won't need treatment. An exercise stress test can help determine whether exercise triggers your PVCs. This test often involves walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike while an is done. Your health care provider may also recommend an exercise stress test. But some monitors automatically sense the irregular heartbeats and then start recording. You usually press a button when symptoms occur.
#Are there problems having an extra heartbeat portable
This portable device is intended to be worn for up to 30 days or until you have an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) or symptoms. Ask your health care provider if this is an option for you. Some personal devices, such as smartwatches, offer portable monitoring. This portable device can be worn for a day or more to record the heart's activity during daily activities. Your health care provider may ask you to use a portable device at home to obtain more information about your heartbeats. If you don't have premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) very often, a standard may not detect them.


An can show if the heart is beating too fast, too slow or not at all. Wires connect the electrodes to a computer, which displays the test results. Sticky patches (electrodes) are placed on the chest and sometimes the arms and legs. An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) can detect the extra beats and identify the pattern and source.Īn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a quick and painless test to record the heart's electrical activity.
