Risk Factors And Causes of Premature Ventricular Contractions

Heart Failure

Heart failure can cause an individual to experience frequent premature ventricular contractions because of their reduced heart function. This happens when the heart muscle is unable to pump blood throughout the body effectively enough to support all of its functions. This inability can occur when the heart muscle becomes too weak in certain areas, becomes too hard or stiff in some areas, or both. Weakened parts of the heart muscle cannot contract strong enough to pump blood, and any stiffened parts of the heart will fail to fill up with enough blood to be pumped back out. Several factors can cause premature ventricular contractions to occur in individuals with heart failure.

Structural changes, including fibrosis or scar formation, dilation of one or more chambers, myocardial stretch, and an alteration of the ionic cellular currents may all manifest as heart rhythm abnormalities. Fibrosis can place a physical barrier in the normal electrical pathways of the heart, which can result in PVCs. Heart failure can cause remodeling of sodium channels that control the heart rhythm, and this can interfere with normal ventricular contractions. Individuals who have heart failure that does not cause PVCs directly are still at an increased risk for them when additional risk factors become involved.