Premature Atrial Contraction (PACs)- ECG, Causes, Symptoms, Prevention & Treatment

The most common symptom of any heart disease is the irregulation of the heartbeat. Our heart is a perfect organ, and if we identify a problem in its functioning, there is probably some disease. We will discuss one of these heart disorders called Premature Atrial Contraction.

Premature Atrial Contraction

This heart disease is not highly dangerous but still needs on-time treatment. We will share the available Premature Atrial Contraction ECG Treatments in this article. Read the blog entirely to get maximum information.

Introduction to Premature Atrial Contraction

This condition arises from the upper chambers of the heart. PAC is an extra Atrial Contraction that can feel like the heart has skipped a heartbeat. As this is an extra contraction, there is no blood in the heart to pump, which results in a strong beat or pause after that extra heartbeat.

The Sinus Rhythm with PAC causes this irregulation of the heartbeat. Usually, Premature Atrial Contraction is not considered to be a dangerous condition. But if you feel like the heart has been skipping a beat too much, then urgent treatment is suggested by the doctors. 

Types of PAC

PAC has classified into different types. This division is based on the repeating of the PACs in Heart. This is how we identify if the condition is severe or not. We have mentioned the basic types of PAC below:

  • Bigeminy: Every second beat will be a PAC
  • Trigeminy: Every third beat will be a PAC
  • Quadrigeminy: Every fourth heartbeat will be a PAC
  • Couplet: In this condition, the patient will have two consecutive PACs
  • Triplet: In this condition, the patient will have three consecutive PACs

How to Diagnose the PAC?

Premature Atrial Contraction has very minute symptoms, and we often ignore the signs of PAC. Hence, a proper diagnosing test is required to ensure we have PAC. In most cases, PACs ECG helps us with the diagnosis. This is a simple test that shows us our heart rhythm. 

This test could take a few minutes or 24 to 48 hours. In the case of long-term tests, a detector will be attached to your body to record your heartbeat. And at the end, the machine will also detect Premature Atrial Complexes. The type of PAC you are dealing with will also be identified with ECG.

Premature Atrial Contraction Causes

The irregulation in a heartbeat can be because of a poor lifestyle or any previous heart conditions. Identifying the exact cause of PAC Heart Rhythm is very important. Ours depends on the fact that what has caused PAC in the first place.

Some of the common causes of PACs are shared below:

  • Any heart disease or injury that interferes with electrical impulses in the heart causes PAC.
  • A person who smokes regularly is more likely to develop heart conditions.
  • Alcohol consumption can cause PAC Cardiac.
  • Caffeine increases the adrenaline, which causes PAC.
  • Medicine side effects can irregulate the heartbeat

Symptoms of Premature Atrial Contraction

The symptoms of Premature Atrial Contraction are difficult to identify. That’s why we use tests like PAC ECG to diagnose heart diseases. Still, some signs and symptoms point toward PAC. We have shared these PAC Symptoms below.

  • The sensation of the heart skipping the beat.
  • Flutter in chest
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue
  • The fast heartbeat of over 100 beats per minute

Treatments for Premature Atrial Contraction

There are multiple Premature Atrial Contraction ECG Treatment options for the patients. The treatment majorly depends on the severity of the condition. If the disease is at its initial stage, medication will be enough; otherwise, surgery will be required.

We have discussed major treatment ways for Premature Atrial contraction below.

Medical Treatment

There are many medicine that are used to slow down the heart rate. These medicines are mostly antiarrhythmic, relax the heart, improve blood flow, and regulate the heartbeat. However, you must ask your doctor before taking any heart-related medication.

The famous Medication for Premature Atrial Contractions are listed below.

  • Beta Blocker
  • Calcium Chain Blockers

Surgical Treatment

In rare cases, skipping more surgery is required when the Premature Atrial Contraction worsens and the patient is experiencing a heartbeat. Medications are not enough in such situations hence patient must undergo some surgery. 

Mostly Cardiac Ablation is used to treat PAC ECG. In this surgery, a tissue layer will be removed from the atria. This reduces muscle tension and regulates the heartbeat. It is a very complicated treatment.

Ayurvedic Treatment

Brand names and generic drugs usually have some inactive ingredients to which a patient can be allergic. If that’s the case with you, you can use Ayurvedic medicines as Premature Atrial Complexes Treatment. Some commonly used Ayurvedic drugs for PAC are listed below:

  • Terminalia Arjuna
  • Ficus Religiosa
  • Eletteria Cardamom

Exercise Treatment

Exercising is arguably the best way to improve heart health. There are many exercises that you can do daily to improve heart health and naturally treat PAC. However, these exercises must be light and not cause Premature Atrial Contraction Symptoms.

Some light and easy exercises a PAC patient can do are listed below.

  • Meditation
  • Yoga
  • Slow Walking

Preventions

As the patient gets PAC treatment, he must also consider some safety measures. There is prevention that will keep you safe during the treatment and treat you as soon as possible. We have discussed the preventions specialist suggest patients follow.

  • Do some light exercise every day.
  • Follow a healthy diet plan.
  • Quit smoking and drinking alcohol.
  • Identify the Premature Atrial Contraction Causes and eradicate them.
  • Control your cholesterol level and loss extra weight.
  • Keep the blood pressure in control.
  • Follow the doctor’s prescription and take your daily medication on time.

Bottom Line

Heart conditions can be critical if you don’t pay attention to them. Diseases like Premature Atrial Contraction are usually considered less dangerous but can be fatal if you ignore them. That’s why you should start getting treatment if you see slight irregulation in your heartbeat.

It can be challenging to diagnose Premature Atrial Contraction at its initial stage. Hence we suggest our readers get medical tests regularly. PAC ECG will help you identify the severity of this condition at a very early stage.

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