BENIGN PVC'S

A common form of irregular heartbeat is a premature ventricular contraction (PVC), sometimes called a premature ventricular beat (PVB) or a ventricular premature contraction (VPC). In fact, nearly 70% of people may have occasional PVCs.

You have benign PVCs. This means that there is no threat to your health as a result of your heart irregularity. PVCs may feel like a fluttering or breathless sensation in the chest. However, many people have PVCs and are not even aware of it.

PVCs are contractions that occur early in the filling cycle of the heart. These early beats do not allow the heart to fill completely and cause the heart muscle to squeeze ineffectively. As a result, the contraction of the heart is not as forceful. Many describe this as a “skipped beat” because the inefficient beat does not generate enough force to be felt at pulse points in the wrist or neck.

Benign PVCs are most often noticed during rest, because the underlying heart rate is slower and allows more time for the premature beats to sneak into the filling cycle. Benign PVCs can sometimes be decreased by getting up and walking or exercising, which increases the normal pulse rate. Increased stress, excessive caffeine, cigarettes or alcohol can also cause more frequent PVCs. The number of episodes you are having may be diminished by eliminating or decreasing these contributing factors. In addition, regular exercise may also decrease the frequency of PVCs.