The first thing we need is a basic understanding
of Premature Ventricular Contractions. I will add
Premature Atrial Contractions as well since it is basically the
same thing just happening in the Atrium instead of the Ventricle. I
hope to give you an explanation as well as a personal glimpse into
what it is like to have it. As I said on the index page I
will not be giving credit here as that would be impossible. I
have collected this information from various sources, source types,
and from personal experience as well.
DEFINITION
Premature Atrial or Ventricular Contractions [ectopic heartbeats]
cause an irregularity of the heart rate and heart rhythm involving
extra or skipped heartbeats.
ETIOLOGY
Ectopic heartbeats are an arrhythmia involving small variations
in an otherwise normal heartbeat. They may, in many cases,
be without observable cause and are often benign. Other
times, they are associated with electrolyte abnormalities in the
blood which should be corrected, or with ischemia.
SYMPTOMS
In many cases, there may have no symptoms but at times there is
the sensation of feeling the heart beat or the sensation of stopped
or skipped beats.
TREATMENT
Often ectopic heartbeats do not require any treatment. The
condition is treated if symptoms are severe or if extra beats are
very frequent. The underlying cause may also require treatment.
MY POINT of VIEW
It has been backed up on an EKG that I can feel PAC's or PVC's if
they occur in pairs or more. Single ectopic beats go unnoticed.
At this time no treatment is necessary.
You are listening to Memories from the musical Cats, written by
Andrew Lloyd Webber and T.S. Eliot. I felt this song was a perfect
selection
for this site because of the affiliation I feel with Grizabella. Although
for her,
it was age and not health issues that changed her, neither of us are who
we
were before, on the outside, and it can affect how we feel on the inside.
Disclaimer:
The author of this page does not promote, support, or recommend any
particular treatment or medication for any medical condition. The opinions
expressed in stories or links are the responsibility of their authors. No treatment should be undertaken without the supervision of a physician.