Treatment

For most people, PVCs with an otherwise normal heart won't need treatment. However, if you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend treatment.

In some cases, if you have heart disease that could lead to more-serious rhythm problems, you might need the following:

• Lifestyle changes. Eliminating common PVC triggers — such as caffeine or tobacco — can decrease the frequency and severity of your symptoms.

• Medications. Beta blockers — which are often used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease — can suppress premature contractions.

  Other medications, such as calcium channel blockers, or anti-arrhythmic drugs, such as amiodarone (Pacerone) or flecainide (Tambocor), also might be used if you have ventricular tachycardia or frequent PVCs that interfere with your heart's function.

• Radiofrequency catheter ablation. For PVCs that don't respond to lifestyle changes or medications, your doctor might recommend ablation therapy. This procedure uses radiofrequency energy to destroy the area of heart tissue that is causing your irregular contractions.