PVC prevalence increases with age Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are extra heabeats that begin in one of your hea's two lower pumping chambers (ventricles). These extra beats disrupt your regular hea rhythm, sometimes causing you to feel a fluttering or a skipped beat in your chest If PVCs are frequent or troublesome, medication (beta blockers or ceain calcium channel blockers) may be used. Very frequent PVCs in people with dilated cardiomyopathy may be treated with radiofrequency ablation Although there are many possible symptoms associated with PVCs, PVCs may also have no symptoms at all. PVCs may be perceived as a skipped hea beat, a strong beat, palpitations, lightheadedness. They may also cause chest pain, a faint feeling, fatigue, or hyperventilation after exercise.Symptoms may be more pronounced at times of stress. Women may be more aware of PVCs at the time of the menstrual period. Premature ventricular contractions may be associated with underlying hea disease, and ceain characteristics are therefore elicited routinely: the presence of signs of hea disease or a known history of hea disease (e.g. previous myocardial infarction), as well as hea disease or sudden cardiac death in close relatives. PVCs and palpitation associated with syncope (transient loss of consciousness) or provoked by exeion are also concerning. Physical examination is focused on identifying evidence of underlying hea disease 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 propoion of people they occur spontaneously with no known cause. Some possible underlying causes of PVCs include: Adrenaline excess High blood calcium Cardiomyopathy, hyperophic or dilated Ceain medicines such as digoxin, which increases hea contraction or tricyclic antidepressants Chemical (electrolyte) problems in the blood Contact with the carina (trachea/bronchi) when performing medical suctioning stimulates vagus nerve Drugs such as: Alcohol Caffeine Cocaine Theobromin Myocardial infarction Hypercapnia (CO2 poisoning) Hypeension (high blood pressure) Hypokalemia--low blood levels of potassium. Can occur in those taking diuretics ("water pills")[ Hypomagnesaemia--low blood levels of magnesium Hypoxia Lack of sleep/exhaustion[ Magnesium and potassium deficiency Mitral valve prolapse Myocardial contusion Myocarditis Sarcoidosis[ Smoking Stress[ Ref Harrison 20th ed pg 1434