Ectopic beat is a disturbance of the cardiac rhythm frequently related to the
electrical conduction system of the heart, in which beats arise from fibers or group of fibers outside the region in the
heart muscle ordinarily responsible for impulse formation (''i.e.'', the
sinoatrial node). An ectopic beat can be further classified as either a
premature ventricular contraction (PVC), or a
premature atrial contraction
Premature atrial contraction (PAC), also known as atrial premature complexes (APC) or atrial premature beats (APB), are a common cardiac dysrhythmia characterized by premature heartbeats originating in the atria. While the sinoatrial node typic ...
(PAC).
Some patients describe this experience as a "flip" or a "jolt" in the chest, or a "heart hiccup", while others report dropped or missed beats. Ectopic beats are more common during periods of
psychological stress
In psychology, stress is a feeling of emotional strain and pressure. Stress is a type of psychological pain. Small amounts of stress may be beneficial, as it can improve athletic performance, motivation and reaction to the environment. Exces ...
,
exercise
Exercise is a body activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness.
It is performed for various reasons, to aid growth and improve strength, develop muscles and the cardiovascular system, hone athletic ...
or debility; they may also be triggered by consumption of some food like
carbohydrates
In organic chemistry, a carbohydrate () is a biomolecule consisting of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms, usually with a hydrogen–oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 (as in water) and thus with the empirical formula (where ''m'' may or may ...
, strong cheese, or
chocolate.
It is a form of
cardiac arrhythmia in which
ectopic foci within either
ventricular or
atrial myocardium
Cardiac muscle (also called heart muscle, myocardium, cardiomyocytes and cardiac myocytes) is one of three types of vertebrate muscle tissues, with the other two being skeletal muscle and smooth muscle. It is an involuntary, striated muscle that ...
, or from finer branches of the electric transduction system, cause additional beats of the
heart. Some
medications may worsen the phenomenon.
Ectopic beats are considered normal and are not indicative of cardiac pathology. Ectopic beats often remain undetected and occur as part of minor errors in the heart conduction system. They are rarely indicative of cardiac pathology, although may occur more frequently or be more noticeable in those with existing cardiac abnormalities. Ectopic beats are a type of
cardiac arrhythmias, which is a variety of cardiac abnormalities relating to rate or rhythm of the
cardiac cycle.
Ectopic beats may become more frequent during
anxiety,
panic attack, and the
fight-or-flight response due to the increase in
sympathetic nervous activity or due to
parasympathetic
The parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is one of the three divisions of the autonomic nervous system, the others being the sympathetic nervous system and the enteric nervous system. The enteric nervous system is sometimes considered part of t ...
failure, stimulating either more frequent or more vigorous contractions and increasing
stroke volume
In cardiovascular physiology, stroke volume (SV) is the volume of blood pumped from the left ventricle per beat. Stroke volume is calculated using measurements of ventricle volumes from an echocardiogram and subtracting the volume of the blood i ...
. The consumption of
nicotine
Nicotine is a naturally produced alkaloid in the nightshade family of plants (most predominantly in tobacco and ''Duboisia hopwoodii'') and is widely used recreationally as a stimulant and anxiolytic. As a pharmaceutical drug, it is used fo ...
,
alcohol
Alcohol most commonly refers to:
* Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom
* Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks
Alcohol may also refer to:
Chemicals
* Ethanol, one of sev ...
,
epinephrine
Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone and medication which is involved in regulating visceral functions (e.g., respiration). It appears as a white microcrystalline granule. Adrenaline is normally produced by the adrenal glands and ...
and
caffeine may also increase the incidence of ectopic beats, due to their influence on the action of
cardiomyocytes.
See also
*
*
Ectopia (disambiguation)
*
Junctional escape beat
*
Palpitation
*
Premature junctional contraction Premature junctional contractions (PJCs), also called atrioventricular junctional premature complexes or junctional extrasystole, are premature cardiac electrical impulses originating from the atrioventricular node of the heart or "junction". This a ...
*
Ventricular escape beat
References
External links
Cardiac arrhythmia
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