Treatment depends on how well the heart pumps and how often PVCs occur. In most cases, PVCs are harmless and do not require treatment. However, for some patients who have certain types of heart disease or who have symptoms that affect their quality of life, a minimally invasive surgical procedure called a catheter ablation can sometimes be done.
Following a healthy lifestyle can also help reduce and prevent PVCs and other heart problems. Tips include:
- Eat a heart-healthy diet. This includes eating fruits and veggies, lean meats, nuts, beans, fish and whole grains, while limiting sodium, added sugars and unhealthy fats.
- If you smoke, quit. Smoking can increase your risk for heart attack and stroke. Avoid vaping and secondhand smoke as well.
- Limit alcohol. Men should have no more than two drinks per day and women should aim for no more than one drink per day.
- Limit caffeine, which can trigger PVCs.
- Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
- Manage stress and take time to rest and relax.
- Get seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night.
- Manage other health problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, by taking medications properly and following your provider’s guidance.
- Stay physically active. Try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. Talk to your provider about what exercises are good for you. Be sure to watch for signs that your heart is working too hard; if you become short of breath or dizzy while exercising, stop and rest right away.
If your PVCs cause symptoms or happen often enough to damage your heart, your healthcare provider may recommend certain medicines.
- Antiarrhythmics: These medications work to help restore a normal heart rhythm.
- Beta blockers: These medications block the effects of adrenaline on the heart, which slows the heart rate and lessens the force of heart contractions.
- Calcium channel blockers: These medications block calcium channels to the heart cells, which slows the heart rate and helps manage arrhythmias.
In this procedure, a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and threaded to the heart. Electrodes inside the catheter allow your cardiologist to find the problem areas and destroy the abnormal tissue with radiofrequency energy.
