Risk Factors And Causes of Premature Ventricular Contractions

Increased Adrenaline In The Body

Increased adrenaline in the body can cause an individual to experience premature ventricular contractions. Adrenaline or epinephrine, the fight or flight hormone, is released by the adrenal glands. The primary function of adrenaline is to physically prepare the body for sudden and or vigorous action in times of distress. Adrenaline is supposed to increase the blood pressure and heart rate, expand air passageways in the lungs, redistribute blood to the muscles, dilate the pupil of the eye, and change the metabolism to maximize glucose.

Increased levels of adrenaline can be caused by general stressful situations, a threat, extreme activities like bungee jumping or riding a rollercoaster, a tumor in the adrenal glands, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and excitement. The physical effects of adrenaline on the body can disrupt the natural rhythm of the heartbeat in numerous ways. One of the ways it may do so is by PVCs. When the heart is contracting and relaxing at a high rate due to high adrenaline levels, it has a higher likelihood of unintentionally contracting one of its chambers earlier than it should. When this happens in the bottom chambers or the ventricles, it is considered a premature ventricular contraction.