Premature Ventricular Contractions

For their part, premature ventricular contractions are extra heartbeats that come earlier than the heart's normal rhythm. Many people describe them as a flip-flop, skip, or pause sensation in the chest, and in many cases they do not reflect a serious problem.

Common causes: they may be related to stress, lack of sleep, caffeine or tobacco use, and sometimes to heart conditions that are worth ruling out.

When to see a doctor? If the irregular beats are frequent or come with dizziness, shortness of breath, or chest pain, it is wise to seek an evaluation.

Which specialist treats it? The cardiologist is the professional indicated to study the heart's rhythm and identify the cause of these changes. Discussing these sensations with a specialist helps determine whether they need further study or just monitoring.