Is heart premature beat a heart disease?

Feb 27, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

Recently, I have been feeling that I have symptoms of premature heartbeats. I would like to ask the doctor, is having premature heartbeats a sign of heart disease?

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Tian Hongbo

Premature beats do not equate to heart disease; rather, they represent a type of arrhythmia. Premature beats refer to one or more extra heartbeats occurring earlier than the normal rhythmic cycle. This phenomenon can occur in healthy individuals, or may be one manifestation of certain heart diseases, such as coronary artery disease or myocarditis. These premature beats can be occasional or frequent, and may even display a certain pattern. The causes of premature beats are varied, including physiological factors such as emotional excitement, fatigue, and alcohol consumption, as well as pathological factors such as heart diseases including myocarditis and coronary artery disease. However, not all premature beats indicate the presence of heart disease. Premature beats themselves usually do not cause significant damage to the heart, but if they occur frequently or are accompanied by other symptoms such as chest pain or syncope, further investigation may be necessary to rule out hidden heart problems.

To determine whether premature beats are related to heart disease, a comprehensive evaluation including specific tests such as electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography should be performed. Therefore, when premature beats occur, one should neither panic excessively nor neglect them; timely medical consultation is advised.