page_title: Premature ventricular contraction
section_title: Causes
hierarchical_section_title: Premature ventricular contraction / Causes
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Eine supraventrikuläre Extrasystole im kontinuierlichen Blutdrucksignal, gemessen mit einem CNAP® Monitor 500. English: A supraventricular extrasystole in a continuous blood pressure signal, recorded by an CNAP® Monitor 500.
context_page_description: A premature ventricular contraction is a relatively common event where the heartbeat is initiated by Purkinje fibers in the ventricles rather than by the sinoatrial node. PVCs may cause no symptoms or may be perceived as a "skipped beat" or felt as palpitations in the chest. Single beat PVCs do not usually pose a danger.
  The electrical events of the heart detected by the electrocardiogram allow a PVC to be easily distinguished from a normal heart beat. However, very frequent PVCs can be symptomatic of an underlying heart condition. Furthermore, very frequent PVCs are considered a risk factor for arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle becomes less effective and symptoms of heart failure may develop. Ultrasound of the heart is therefore recommended in people with PVCs.
  If PVCs are frequent or troublesome, medication may be used. Very frequent PVCs in people with dilated cardiomyopathy may be treated with radiofrequency ablation.
context_section_description: Premature ventricular contractions can occur in a healthy person of any age, but are more prevalent in the elderly and in men. In a very significant proportion of people they occur spontaneously with no known cause.  Some possible underlying causes of PVCs include:
  Adrenaline excess
  High blood calcium
  Cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic or dilated
  Certain medicines such as digoxin, which increases heart contraction or tricyclic antidepressants
  Chemical (electrolyte) problems in the blood (for example hypokalemia, which can occur in those taking diuretics ("water pills") and hypomagnesaemia).
  Contact with the carina (trachea/bronchi) when performing medical suctioning stimulates vagus nerve
  Drugs such as:
  Alcohol
  Caffeine
  Cocaine
  Theobromine
  Myocardial infarction
  Hypercapnia (CO₂ poisoning)
  Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  Hypoxia
  Lack of sleep/exhaustion
  Mitral valve prolapse
  Myocardial contusion
  Myocarditis
  Sarcoidosis
  Smoking
  Stress
caption: Resulting "skipped beat" in the continuous blood pressure, recorded noninvasively.
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