Atrial Ectopic Beats

What Are Atrial Ectopic Beats?
Atrial Ectopic Beats, also referred to as AEB or premature atrial complex, signify an abnormality in the electrical system of the upper chambers of the heart. An AEB is an extra heartbeat that occurs after an abnormal electrical impulse is sent to the upper chambers.

What Causes Atrial Ectopic Beats?
There are a number of causes for atrial ectopic beats. Generally, this condition is found in older people and is noticeable in healthy individuals as well and can be considered part of aging. In addition, several other factors have been linked to AEB:

Stress. An increase in stress has been associated with atrial ectopic beats. In addition, it has been shown to raise blood pressure and has also been linked to other forms of abnormal heartbeats.
Smoking. The chemicals in nicotine have been linked to an increased likelihood in the development of atrial ectopic beats. In addition, it also narrows the blood vessels, which causes a decrease in the flow of blood to the heart. This is also linked to atrial ectopic beats.
Caffeine. The stimulants in caffeine can cause palpitations and trigger atrial ectopic beats as a result.
Medication. Some medications, particularly over the counter cold medications, can result in an atrial ectopic beat.The majority of over the counter cold and flu medications contain decongestants, which have been proven to not only raise blood pressure, but can cause heart arrhythmias as well. Common decongestants found in cold and flu medications that increase risk of high blood pressure include pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine.
Other conditions. Lung disease, an enlarged atria (one of the heart's chambers), high blood pressure (hypertension), and other forms of heart arrhythmia are also attributed to atrial ectopic beats.

What Are the Symptoms and How is It Diagnosed?
Symptoms for atrial ectopic beats are rare. In fact, they are fairly frequent occurrences in perfectly healthy individuals, and many times they will not even notice they are experiencing atrial ectopic beats.

When the patient does notice symptoms, they are generally in the form of a feeling that the heart has skipped or missed a beat. In addition, a pounding or thumping feeling in the chest followed by a stronger heart beat is another symptom of AEB.

A doctor will usually be able to tell through a physical exam that a patient is experiencing an atrial ectopic beat. He might order an ECG to confirm his diagnosis.
How Is It Treated?
In general, atrial ectopic beats are not considered a threat to a person's health and usually go untreated. In some cases, however, if the doctor feels it necessary or if the condition poses a risk for the development of other more serious heart arrhythmias or diseases, he will prescribe medications to regulate the heartbeat. These can include:
Antiarrhythmics. Antiarrhythmic drugs are used to regulate the heartbeat by controlling the impulses that cause the heart to flutter or beat erratically. In some cases, a doctor will prescribe a blood thinner to prevent clots from forming.
Calcium channel blockers. Calcium channel blockers prevent the build-up of calcium in the heart's tissues. In addition to treating atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and high blood pressure, calcium channel blockers also control some abnormal heart rhythms.
Beta blockers. Beta blockers are used to slow the heart beat, helpful in treating a form of arrhythmia known as trachycardia, where the heart beats too quickly.
Anticoagulants. This type of drug is a blood thinner that prevents the formation of blood clots in the vessels and prevents current clots from growing larger. These are commonly used in conjunction with other forms of arrhythmic or heart medications, as blood clots cause heart attacks.