The unexpected signal fires sooner than it should (prematurely), creating an extra, abnormal heartbeat and briefly disrupting the normal heart rhythm.ĭoctors don’t always know what causes premature atrial contractions. Often, it arises in an area near the pulmonary veins, where oxygen-rich blood travels from the lungs to the heart. When a person experiences a premature atrial contraction, an electrical signal arises in one of the heart’s upper chambers but not from the sinoatrial node. After that, the heart’s two lower chambers (the ventricles) contract. The electrical impulse causes the two upper chambers of the heart (the atria) to contract or squeeze. The sinoatrial node is located in the upper right-hand chamber of the heart, known as the right atrium. When a heart beats normally, a group of muscle fibers called the sinoatrial node initiates an electrical impulse. This is more likely to occur among people born with heart abnormalities or other heart problems. However, people who experience 30 or more premature atrial contractions per hour are at increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Sporadic premature atrial contractions in healthy people aren’t associated with health problems. It’s believed that 99% of adults age 50 and older experience these contractions. Premature atrial contractions may occur once or twice per hour in adults over age 50. These contractions arise in most people occasionally without a known cause. It may or may not cause noticeable symptoms. They arise when an unexpected area in the heart fires an electrical impulse that triggers a heartbeat. Premature atrial contractions are occasional extra heartbeats that disrupt the normal rhythm of the heart. When treatment is needed, medication and minimally invasive procedures are used to manage the condition. However, people with premature atrial contractions may be at increased risk of atrial fibrillation if their premature atrial contractions are not addressed. Most people don’t need treatment when they experience premature atrial contractions. They are also more likely to occur among people who have had heart attacks. Premature atrial contractions are more common among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), congestive heart failure, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Doctors expect that people will have them on occasion without any ill effects. They are most common among older adults, although they may arise among people of any age, including newborns. Most of the time, sporadic premature atrial contractions are normal and therefore are not a health concern. It’s possible for people who experience premature atrial contractions to feel heart palpitations or other symptoms of the condition, but many people don’t notice anything unusual when they have this extra heartbeat. This type of extra heartbeat originates in one of the upper chambers of the heart, known as the atria. A premature atrial contraction is an extra heartbeat that occurs occasionally, often for no known reason, momentarily throwing off the heart’s normal rhythm.
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