Premature beats are unexpected, often single heartbeats that disrupt the heart’s normal rhythm. Many people feel this as “heart skipping,” “pausing,” or “jumping.” This sensation occurs when your heart pauses momentarily after a premature beat and then beats more forcefully. These beats can originate from either the atria (upper chambers) or ventricles (lower chambers) of the heart. Premature atrial contractions (PACs) and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are the two most common forms. If you don’t have any other heart disease and don’t experience them very frequently, they are harmless.
- What is Premature Beats?
- What Are the Types of Premature Beats?
- What Are the Symptoms of Premature Beats?
- What Causes Premature Beats?
- How Are Premature Beats Diagnosed?
- How Are Premature Beats Treated?
- What Are the Risks and Complications of Premature Beats?
- What Are the Prevention Methods for Premature Beats?
- How Should Nutrition and Exercise Be?
- When Should You Consult a Doctor?
What is Premature Beats?
A premature beat is an extra heartbeat that occurs unexpectedly when your heart should be beating in a normal cycle. It is triggered by an abnormal electrical signal originating from a different part of the heart (atrium or ventricle) instead of the sinus node, which provides your heart’s main rhythm. This premature beat causes the heart to contract earlier than normal, followed by a brief pause before returning to normal rhythm. This pause and the stronger beat that follows create the sensation of “heart stopping” or “jumping.”
What Are the Types of Premature Beats?
Premature beats are divided into two main types based on their region of origin. This distinction is usually important in terms of the severity of premature beats and treatment approach.
Let’s get to know the main types of premature beats more closely:
- Premature Atrial Contractions (PACs): These types of premature beats originate from the upper chambers of your heart (atria). They are usually harmless and commonly seen in healthy individuals. Their symptoms are mostly mild or not felt at all. PACs can sometimes be a harbinger of more serious arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation.
- Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs): These premature beats originate from the lower chambers of your heart (ventricles). Ventricular premature beats are also usually harmless, but when they repeat very frequently or when there is underlying heart disease (such as heart failure or after a heart attack), they can be harbingers of more serious arrhythmias (such as ventricular tachycardia).
Junctional Premature Beats are seen more rarely and originate from the heart’s conduction system center (around the AV node).
What Are the Symptoms of Premature Beats?
Premature beats are usually not felt or manifest themselves with very mild symptoms such as palpitations or skipping sensations. Most people feel these beats more clearly during rest or when lying in bed.
The most common symptoms of premature beats are:
- Heart Skipping or Jumping Sensation: You feel your heart pause for a moment and then make a stronger beat.
- Mild Palpitations: You feel your heart beating rapidly and briefly in your chest.
- Beat Sensation in Throat or Neck: Your heart’s premature beat can sometimes be felt in your neck vessels or throat.
- Rare and Serious Symptoms: If premature beats are accompanied by dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, or chest pain, this condition may be a sign of a more serious underlying problem.
What Causes Premature Beats?
Premature beats are usually a result of lifestyle factors or temporary conditions rather than a disease. However, in some cases, heart diseases can also cause premature beats. Knowing the common factors that trigger premature beats can help you manage this condition.
The main conditions that cause premature beats are:
- Stress and Anxiety: Intense stress and anxiety increase adrenaline secretion in your body, which can trigger the heart’s electrical system.
- Caffeine and Alcohol: Stimulants such as coffee, tea, energy drinks, and alcohol can accelerate your heartbeat and trigger premature beats.
- Fatigue and Insomnia: When your body doesn’t get enough rest, your nervous system becomes sensitive, which can cause premature beats.
- Dehydration: When you don’t get enough fluids, the electrolyte balance in your body can be disturbed and the heart’s electrical activity can be affected.
- Smoking: Nicotine is a stimulant that accelerates and irregularizes heartbeats.
- Some Medications: Medications such as cold medicines, asthma medications, and some antidepressants can cause premature beats.
- Heart Diseases: Conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, or heart valve diseases can cause premature beats to be more frequent and serious.
Who Gets Premature Beats?
Premature beats can be seen in people of almost any age and gender. In a healthy individual, experiencing hundreds of premature beats daily can be considered normal. However, in individuals with heart disease, the frequency and severity of premature beats may increase.
The main groups at risk for premature beats are:
- Stressed and Anxious Individuals: More commonly seen in people under intense work pace or emotional stress.
- Those with High Caffeine and Alcohol Consumption: Excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption can trigger premature beats.
- Those with Heart Disease: Premature beats can be more frequent and dangerous in individuals with conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, or cardiomyopathy.
- Pregnant Women: Hormonal changes and increased blood volume during pregnancy can lead to premature beats.
- Those with Thyroid Disease: Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) can trigger premature beats by affecting heart rate and rhythm.
How Are Premature Beats Diagnosed?
Premature beat diagnosis is made with the symptoms experienced by the patient and various cardiological tests. The most important diagnostic tool is electrocardiogram (ECG), which records your heart’s electrical activity. However, since premature beats occur intermittently, a single ECG recording may not be sufficient. Therefore, tests such as Holter monitoring that monitor your heart for long periods are also used.
The main methods used in premature beat diagnosis are:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): Records your heart’s current electrical activity to detect the presence and type of premature beats.
- Holter Monitoring: This is a portable device that continuously records your heart’s rhythm for 24 or 48 hours. This way, all premature beats experienced during the day and their frequency, type, and severity are determined.
- Echocardiogram: Evaluates your heart’s structure and pumping function to check whether there is structural heart disease that may cause premature beats.
How Are Premature Beats Treated?
Treatment of premature beats usually depends on the severity of symptoms and whether there is underlying heart disease. In most cases, harmless premature beats do not require treatment. However, if your symptoms negatively affect your quality of life or if there is an underlying risk factor, treatment options are evaluated.
Methods applied in premature beat treatment are:
- Lifestyle Changes: This is the most important treatment step. Stress management techniques (meditation, breathing exercises), reducing caffeine and alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, and getting adequate sleep are effective in reducing premature beats.
- Medication Treatment: When premature beats are frequent and bothersome, your doctor may recommend medications such as beta blockers that slow heartbeats or anti-arrhythmic drugs that regulate the heart’s electrical activity.
- Treatment of Underlying Disease: If conditions such as heart failure or coronary artery disease are causing premature beats, priority is given to treating these diseases.
- Ablation: Rarely, if very frequent and bothersome premature beats originate from a single focus, permanent treatment can be achieved by burning that area with catheter ablation procedure.
What Are the Risks and Complications of Premature Beats?
Most premature beats are completely harmless and pose no risk. However, some risks may arise in individuals with heart disease or when premature beats are very frequent and irregular.
The main complications that premature beats can cause are:
- Heart Failure: Very frequent premature beats (more than 20,000 daily) can weaken the heart’s pumping function over time, leading to heart failure. This condition is called extrasystole-induced cardiomyopathy.
- Arrhythmias: Atrial premature beats can be triggers for more serious arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. Ventricular premature beats can rarely transform into ventricular tachycardia.
- Anxiety and Worry: In people who frequently feel premature beats, anxiety and panic attacks may develop with the thought that this condition is a sign of serious illness.
What Are the Prevention Methods for Premature Beats?
Although it’s not possible to completely prevent premature beats, you can reduce their frequency and severity by avoiding factors that trigger episodes. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is the most effective way both to reduce premature beats and protect your overall heart health.
You can do the following to prevent premature beats:
- Stress Management: Reduce stress with methods such as regular exercise, meditation, or yoga.
- Avoid Stimulants: Limit or completely quit caffeine, alcohol, and smoking.
- Get Adequate Sleep: Take care to get 7-8 hours of quality sleep every night.
- Eat Balanced: Drink plenty of water and eat healthily to maintain your body’s electrolyte balance.
How Should Nutrition and Exercise Be?
For people with premature beats, nutrition and exercise play an important role in reducing symptoms and improving overall heart health.
- Limit coffee, energy drink, and alcohol consumption.
- Avoid excessive salt and sugar consumption.
- Consume foods rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium (such as bananas, spinach, avocado).
- Regular and moderate-intensity exercises such as walking and cycling are beneficial for your heart health and reduce stress.
- Avoid heavy sports that require excessive effort, especially if they trigger symptoms.
When Should You Consult a Doctor?
If you frequently feel premature beats in your heart and this condition negatively affects your quality of life, you should consult a cardiology specialist. Especially if premature beats are accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, chest pain, or shortness of breath, this condition may be a sign of a more serious underlying problem and you need to see a doctor without delay.
