An atrial premature beat (atrial ectopic beat), is an abnormal extra beat caused due to the stimulation of the atria by a rogue electrical impulse starting from an abnormal site (other than the normal sinoatrial node) prior to a normal heartbeat.

Atrial premature beats are fairly common occurrence in people who are healthy and these extra beats are often quite harmless. People with disorders of the lungs are more prone to this condition, and incidence is more frequent in older people compared to younger people. This condition can be aggravated by mild stimulants like caffeine in beverages and alcohol. Anti- allergic medications often prescribed for cold and allergic rhinitis (hay fever) as well as some drugs taken for asthma also worsen atrial premature beats.

Atrial premature beats are usually asymptomatic but they may be accidentally detected when a person undergoes a physical examination or when an electrocardiography (ECG) is performed. Treatment is possible but generally unnecessary. Antiarrhythmic drugs are used to treat this condition; only if it is very frequent and patient complains of severely distressing palpitations. Otherwise, patients are advised to avoid drugs and other substances that aggravate the symptoms.

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Yasser Elnahas

MD, PHD, Professor Of CardioVascular Surgery

Dr. Yasser Elnahas, Is an associate Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery. Dr. Elnahas was trained as a fellow At Texas Heart Institute And Mayo Clinic Foundation.Dr. Elnahas is dedicated to educating the general public about different disease conditions and simplifying the medical knowledge in an easy to understand terminology.

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