page_title: Premature heart beat
section_title: Diagnosis
hierarchical_section_title: Premature heart beat / Diagnosis
caption_attribution_description: English: Premature heart beat revealed by laser Doppler holography of the eye fundus
context_page_description: A premature heart beat is a heart rhythm disorder corresponding to a premature contraction of one of the chambers of the heart. Premature heart beats come in two different types, premature atrial contractions and premature ventricular contractions. Often they cause no symptoms but may present with fluttering in the chest or a skipped beat. Typically have no long term complications.
  They most often happen naturally but may be associated with caffeine, nicotine, or stress. Usually no treatment is needed. They are the most common arrhythmia.
context_section_description: Premature heart beats can be asymptomatic (the patient does not complain about anything). The subject may experience palpitations, a feeling of cardiac "pause". Taking (prolonged) pulse may result in a rhythm that seems irregular. Electrocardiography and laser Doppler imaging allow to visualize Premature heart beats. From their appearance, their location can be assessed. The Holter monitor allows to quantify them, to specify their characteristics and their repetition.
caption: Premature heart beat revealed by blood flow pulse wave in the central retinal artery (red) and vein (blue) by laser Doppler imaging.
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