How Can PVCs Cause Chest Pain?

Are you convinced that your premature ventricular contractions are causing you chest pain? You may want to rethink this idea.

“PVCs or premature ventricular contractions are ‘extra’ heartbeats coming from the bottom chambers of the heart,” explains Dr. Pam Marcovitz, MD, medical director of the Ministrelli Women’s Heart Center, at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak.

“They occur earlier than the normal heartbeat which comes from the top of the heart.

“The extra beat occurs in the pumping chamber and travels up to the top of the heart in backwards fashion from the normal heartbeat.

“Most of the time, PVCs are harmless, especially if they only last a second or two. PVCs are usually not associated with chest pain.”

If you’re feeling chest pain that seems to come right after one of your PVCs, this is most likely from anxiety over the PVCs in the first place.

Experiencing that sudden “ba-BOOM” from your heart may cause you to tense up, triggering an adrenaline surge — and some of that tension could be in your chest muscles.

Relax, premature ventricular contractions are not a harbinger of heart attacks.

Dr. Marcovitz has 40+ years of experience in helping people improve their heart health.

Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.