The heart consists of four chambers: two upper chambers called the atrium and two bottom chambers called the ventricles. These chambers must all contract in an orderly fashion in order for the heart to deliver blood and oxygen properly. In the case of premature atrial contractions, the atrium receive faulty signals to contract too soon. This can result in a sensation of a skipped or irregular heart beat. In many cases, premature atrial contractions are not caused by a serious condition. However, any irregular heart beat should always be evaluated.
Diet and Smoking
Caffeine can cause irregular heart rhythms such as premature atrial contractions, according to the Heart Rhythm Society. Chocolate, alcohol and nicotine can all speed up or otherwise alter the normal rhythm of the heart. Drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines can also cause this symptom. Different substances in varying amounts cause this symptom in different people. For example in some people premature atrial contractions can happen after just one drink, while in others several drinks cause no symptoms at all. After a patient is diagnosed with premature atrial contractions, a period of trial and error may be needed to find individual triggers.
Medical Conditions
According to the Texas Arrhythmia Institute, premature atrial contractions usually do not require treatment and are very rarely serious. Treatment can be started if the symptoms are bothersome. Premature atrial contractions can happen in adults who are healthy with no known disease. However, they can also occur with chronic conditions such as any kind of heart disease that makes the heart work harder, thyroid problems and lung disease. Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. This can speed up many systems in the body and may contribute to premature heart beats. Lung conditions, which can affect the amount of oxygen the body receives, may also stimulate the heart to beat faster to help increase oxygen levels. Keeping the underlying medical conditions under control should also help to manage premature atrial contractions.
Stress and Heavy Exercise
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute states that premature beats can occur with no known cause or be attributed to stress. When under stress, the body releases several chemicals to prepare it for "fight or flight." Part of this response is to increase the heart rate so that more blood and oxygen is available to the body. This can lead to premature atrial contractions. Aerobic exercise, which also stresses the heart in a healthy way, makes the heart beat faster and can trigger premature beats. In some cases, the premature beats can occur without causing any symptoms. If symptoms do occur, a physician can run tests to make sure there is no underlying serious medical condition that needs to be treated.
