What Does A PVC Look Like On An ECG?

What does a PVC look like on an ECG? This is a question that many people wonder about. A PVC, or premature ventricular contraction, is a common cardiac arrhythmia. It can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, and other symptoms.

What should I know about this?

While PVCs are usually benign and do not require treatment, they can signify a more serious underlying condition.

On an ECG, a PVC looks like a premature QRS complex. The QRS complex is the part of the cardiac cycle that represents ventricular depolarization. A PVC occurs when the ventricles contract prematurely before the electrical signal from the sinoatrial node has had time to reach them. This results in a wider than average QRS complex on the ECG.

PVCs can occur in healthy people with no underlying cardiac conditions. They are more common in people with certain heart diseases, such as coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy. People with chronic lung diseases, such as COPD and people who use tobacco products are also at increased risk for PVCs.

We hope this information has been useful to you.