Heart: What are premature ventricular contractions?

Premature ventricular contractions, are premature heartbeats that originate from the ventricles of the heart

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING IN RESCUE: VISIT THE SQUICCIARINI RESCUE BOOTH AND FIND OUT HOW TO BE PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY

Premature ventricular contractions are so called because they occur before the regular heartbeat

The right ventricle supplies blood to the lungs, while the left ventricle supplies blood to the rest of the body; the heartbeat, pulse, that we hear is caused by the contraction of the ventricles.

The beating of the heart muscle is controlled by the heart’s electrical system consisting of the atrial sinus node, the ventricular atrium node and special tissues in the ventricles that conduct electricity.

The atrial sinus node is the heart’s electrical pacemaker and will keep the heart beating steadily; at rest, the frequency of electrical discharges from the atrial sinus node is low and the heart will have about 60 to 80 beats per minute.

The frequency of the discharges from the atrial sinus node will increase during exercise and consequently the beats of the heart muscle will also increase.

The electrical discharges pass from the atrial sinus node through the special conduction tissues of the atria into the atrio ventricular node and through the latter to the special conduction tissues of the ventricles, allowing them to contract.

THE RADIO OF RESCUERS AROUND THE WORLD? IT’S RADIOEMS: VISIT ITS BOOTH AT EMERGENCY EXPO

What happens during premature ventricular contractions?

During premature ventricular contractions, electrical discharges from the ventricle occur prematurely.

This is due to the susceptibility of the ventricles of the heart muscle, which can be caused by lack of oxygen or medication.

Following a premature ventricular contraction, the heart’s electrical system resets.

This reset causes a brief pause in the heartbeat and some patients report feeling their heart stop briefly after a premature ventricular contraction.

Premature ventricular contractions are common, and often asymptomatic. They are more common among patients: elderly, with high blood pressure, with heart disease.

Premature ventricular contractions may also occur in young healthy individuals without heart disease or high blood pressure.

Causes that trigger premature ventricular contractions include: heart attack; hypertension; cardiomyopathy; heart valve disease.

CARDIOPROTECTION AND CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION? VISIT THE EMD112 BOOTH AT EMERGENCY EXPO NOW TO LEARN MORE

Symptoms of premature ventricular contractions

Patients with premature ventricular contractions may report the sensation that the heart has stopped briefly.

This occurs because there is usually a short pause in the heartbeat after a premature ventricular contraction when the heart’s electrical system resets.

In addition, the premature beat may not be felt because the heart has not had time to fill with blood before beating.

Patients with frequent premature ventricular contractions often have no symptoms, but may experience weakness, dizziness or fainting.

This is because premature ventricular contractions can decrease the heart’s ability to pump blood to other organs, resulting in low blood pressure.

While premature ventricular contractions in healthy individuals will not pose a health risk, in patients with heart disease they may be associated with an increased risk of ventricular tachycardia.

Ventricular tachycardia may be life-threatening as it occurs without warning and develops into ventricular fibrillation; the latter will not allow the heart to pump blood to the brain and the rest of the body.

If left untreated, it could be fatal.

STRETCHERS, LUNG VENTILATORS, EVACUATION CHAIRS: SPENCER PRODUCTS ON THE DOUBLE BOOTH AT EMERGENCY EXPO

Diagnosis

Premature ventricular contractions are diagnosed by blood tests, electrocardiogram, Holter, cardiac stress tests.

Holter monitoring may not detect premature ventricular contractions if they do not occur at the time of monitoring.

Treatment of premature ventricular contractions is aimed at relieving the symptoms of palpitation and preventing ventricular tachycardia, which can lead to sudden death.

In healthy individuals without heart disease, premature ventricular contractions will not require any treatment.

DEFIBRILLATORS, MONITORING DISPLAYS, CHEST COMPRESSION DEVICES: VISIT THE PROGETTI BOOTH AT EMERGENCY EXPO

Read Also

Emergency Live Even More…Live: Download The New Free App Of Your Newspaper For IOS And Android

Life Saving Procedures, Basic Life Support: What Is BLS Certification?

Life-Saving Techniques And Procedures: PALS VS ACLS, What Are The Significant Differences?

Congenital Heart Diseases: The Myocardial Bridge

Heart Rate Alterations: Bradycardia

Mitral Valve Narrowing Of The Heart: Mitral Stenosis

What Are The Symptoms Of Heart Failure?

Heart Attack, What You Need To Know

Patent Ductus Arteriosus: What It Is And What It Causes

Cardiomyopathy: Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

Heart Rate Disorders: Bradyarrhythmia

What Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Is And How It Is Treated

Bradyarrhythmias: What They Are, How To Diagnose Them And How To Treat Them

Heart, Bradycardia: What It Is, What It Involves And How To Treat It

What Is Bradycardia And How To Treat It

Interventricular Septal Defect: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Treatment

Supraventricular Tachycardia: Definition, Diagnosis, Treatment, And Prognosis

Ventricular Aneurysm: How To Recognise It?

Atrial Fibrillation: Classification, Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

EMS: Pediatric SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia) Vs Sinus Tachycardia

Atrioventricular (AV) Block: The Different Types And Patient Management

Pathologies Of The Left Ventricle: Dilated Cardiomyopathy

A Successful CPR Saves On A Patient With Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation

Atrial Fibrillation: Symptoms To Watch Out For

Atrial Fibrillation: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Difference Between Spontaneous, Electrical And Pharmacological Cardioversion

‘D’ For Deads, ‘C’ For Cardioversion! – Defibrillation And Fibrillation In Paediatric Patients

Inflammations Of The Heart: What Are The Causes Of Pericarditis?

Do You Have Episodes Of Sudden Tachycardia? You May Suffer From Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW)

Knowing Thrombosis To Intervene On The Blood Clot

Patient Procedures: What Is External Electrical Cardioversion?

Increasing The Workforce Of EMS, Training Laypeople In Using AED

Heart Attack: Characteristics, Causes And Treatment Of Myocardial Infarction

Altered Heart Rate: Palpitations

Heart: What Is A Heart Attack And How Do We Intervene?

Do You Have Heart Palpitations? Here Is What They Are And What They Indicate

Palpitations: What Causes Them And What To Do

Cardiac Arrest: What It Is, What The Symptoms Are And How To Intervene

Electrocardiogram (ECG): What It Is For, When It Is Needed

What Are The Risks Of WPW (Wolff-Parkinson-White) Syndrome

Heart Failure And Artificial Intelligence: Self-Learning Algorithm To Detect Signs Invisible To The ECG

Heart Failure: Symptoms And Possible Treatments

What Is Heart Failure And How Can It Be Recognised?

Inflammations Of The Heart: Myocarditis, Infective Endocarditis And Pericarditis

Quickly Finding – And Treating – The Cause Of A Stroke May Prevent More: New Guidelines

Atrial Fibrillation: Symptoms To Watch Out For

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome: What It Is And How To Treat It

Do You Have Episodes Of Sudden Tachycardia? You May Suffer From Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW)

What Is Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (Broken Heart Syndrome)?

Heart Disease: What Is Cardiomyopathy?

Inflammations Of The Heart: Myocarditis, Infective Endocarditis And Pericarditis

Heart Murmurs: What It Is And When To Be Concerned

Broken Heart Syndrome Is On The Rise: We Know Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Heart Attack, Some Information For Citizens: What Is The Difference With Cardiac Arrest?

Heart Attack, Prediction And Prevention Thanks To Retinal Vessels And Artificial Intelligence

Full Dynamic Electrocardiogram According To Holter: What Is It?

Heart Attack: What Is It?

In-Depth Analysis Of The Heart: Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CARDIO – MRI)

Palpitations: What They Are, What Are The Symptoms And What Pathologies They Can Indicate

Cardiac Asthma: What It Is And What It Is A Symptom Of

Cardiac Rhythm Restoration Procedures: Electrical Cardioversion

Abnormal Electrical Activity Of The Heart: Ventricular Fibrillation

Gastro-Cardiac Syndrome (Or Roemheld Syndrome): Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

Cardiac Arrhythmias: Atrial Fibrillation

Source

Defibrillatori Shop

You might also like