pvc's verses pac's

[twinbee]

Can anyone tell the difference between pvc's and pac's. I was told  that the event monitor captured both but I was wondering if you can feel the difference. The more common beat I feel is - normal beat then a quick double beat than a pause then a normal beat,quick double beat than a pause - sometimes this goes on for minutes to what seems like an hour. Would this be a pvc or pac?

[RNRita]

PACs are premature atrial contractions and PVCs are premature ventricular contractions.  The atrial contractions come from the upper chambers and the ventriculars ones come from the lower.  It just means that you have focal points in both places that try to take over pacing here and there.  They may feel different to you.  They do to me, but then again, I get so many different sensations that who knows WHAT is contracting at any given moment.  They are not dangerous in a structurally normal heart so don't worry about distinguishing them.  Good luck!