Are atrial premature beats and ventricular premature beats serious?

Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
Updated on September 23, 2024
00:00
00:00

Atrial premature beats and ventricular premature beats are very common types of arrhythmia in our daily life. Generally, most atrial premature beats and ventricular premature beats are not serious, do not involve organic heart disease, and usually do not cause symptoms. The occurrence of these atrial and ventricular premature beats is often related to factors such as staying up late, fatigue, anxiety, drinking strong tea, or coffee. If the cardiac ultrasound and blood tests for thyroid function are normal, then these premature beats are not serious and will not affect health. Generally, no special treatment is needed and there is no need for concern.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Cai Li E
Cardiology
1min 11sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of ventricular premature beats?

Ventricular premature beats often have no specific symptoms, whether there are symptoms and the severity of the symptoms depend on the individual's feeling, and are not directly related to the frequency of the ventricular premature beats. Some people may experience noticeable symptoms even with only a few premature beats. Others might have many premature beats but no symptoms, and ventricular premature beats may only be discovered during a physical examination or when consulting for other diseases. Ventricular premature beats are generally characterized by palpitations, a feeling of skipped beats or a sensation of rapid elevator movements akin to a loss of weight or a forceful heart beat after compensatory pause, and may be accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and chest tightness. Patients with severe organic heart disease who experience frequent long-term ventricular premature beats may develop angina, hypotension, or heart failure.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
57sec home-news-image

What causes premature ventricular contractions?

Ventricular premature beats are the most common type of premature beats clinically, and they mostly occur in healthy people, also known as benign premature beats. They are caused by unstable autonomic nerve function leading to arrhythmia and do not require treatment with anti-arrhythmic drugs. Treatment through regulating nerves and lifestyle can lead to improvement. They can also occur in organic heart diseases, such as coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, and viral myocarditis. These organic heart diseases, due to long-term myocardial damage, exhibit ectopic rhythms and require treatment with effective anti-arrhythmic drugs alongside treatment of the primary disease (the use of such drugs should be under the guidance of a physician).

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
51sec home-news-image

What is the difference between ventricular premature beats and atrial premature beats?

Ventricular premature beats and atrial premature beats have no different clinical symptoms; both present feelings of chest tightness and shortness of breath. They require an electrocardiogram (ECG) for diagnosis, where the differentiation between ventricular and atrial premature beats is made based on the differences in the waveform. Whether it is ventricular or atrial premature beats, if they are caused by discriminatory heart disease, it is necessary to treat the primary disease under the guidance of a doctor, while also correcting the premature beats. If the premature beats are caused by autonomic dysfunction, it is necessary to ensure rest, balance work and leisure, appropriately increase aerobic exercise, and enhance the heart's rhythmicity.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
59sec home-news-image

Can you exercise with premature ventricular contractions?

Whether or not one can exercise with ventricular premature beats depends on the nature of the premature beats and the underlying disease causing them. Premature beats can be seen in healthy individuals and may occur due to instability in the autonomic nervous system. Patients with this type of premature beat can benefit from aerobic exercise, which can enhance cardiac contractility and improve cardiac conduction, aiding in the recovery from premature beats. However, in cases of severe ventricular premature beats caused by organic heart disease, it is necessary to rest and avoid excessive exercise, as overexertion can increase the cardiac load and exacerbate the premature beats. Patients with premature beats should follow the guidance of a doctor and use effective medication for management.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
50sec home-news-image

How to treat premature ventricular contractions?

Ventricular premature beats require an electrocardiogram to determine the frequency and nature of the premature beats, and a comprehensive judgment is made in conjunction with the medical history. Ventricular premature beats can be seen in the normal population, and in some cases, they occur in individuals with unstable autonomic nerve function. This group of people does not need drug treatment. Paying attention to rest, engaging in appropriate exercise, and regulating the autonomic nerves can make the premature beats disappear. In patients with organic heart disease who experience frequent premature beats, it is necessary to choose antiarrhythmic drugs for adjustment and treatment under the guidance of a doctor.