Posted by For my STEAM Project, I chose to research ventricular bigeminy because I personally have this heart condition. Living with ventricular bigeminy hasn’t drastically affected my day-to-day life, but I do notice symptoms when I’m under physical or mental stress. I experience occasional heart palpitations or a fluttery feeling in my chest. Because of this condition, I have to get yearly checkups with a cardiologist to ensure my heart remains healthy. I also have to avoid things that can make the condition worse, most importantly, caffeine. Stimulants like caffeine can heighten irregular heart rhythms and trigger more frequent episodes, so I have to be mindful about what I consume. This project has given me an opportunity to learn more about a condition that directly impacts my health.
Ventricular bigeminy is a type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, where every other heartbeat is a premature ventricular contraction (PVC). Normally, the heart follows a consistent rhythm controlled by electrical signals from the sinoatrial (SA) node. However, in ventricular bigeminy, these signals are disrupted by extra beats that come from the ventricles instead of the SA node. These premature beats are not harmful on their own in most cases, but when they occur frequently or under stress, they can cause discomfort or worsen underlying heart issues (Goldberger, 2008). PVCs in bigeminy patterns can be felt as skipped beats or extra thumps in the chest, and while they may be alarming, they are often benign in healthy individuals.
The cause of ventricular bigeminy can vary. In some people, it is associated with stress, lack of sleep, or excessive caffeine or alcohol intake. In others, it can be a sign of underlying heart disease or electrolyte imbalance. According to the Cleveland Clinic (2023), most people who have PVCs do not have structural heart problems, but it’s still important to monitor the condition over time. Diagnostic tools like EKGs and Holter monitors are commonly used to track the frequency and pattern of PVCs. In rare cases where bigeminy becomes severe or is associated with other heart conditions, medication or procedures like catheter ablation may be recommended.
From a clinical standpoint, ventricular bigeminy can appear as a regular pattern of alternating normal and premature beats on an EKG. When the condition is persistent, it can interfere with the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently, especially if other types of arrhythmias are present. According to Duffee, Shen, and Smith (2008), frequent PVCs, especially in bigeminy, can sometimes lead to a form of cardiomyopathy if left untreated over a long period. However, in many cases, especially among younger or otherwise healthy individuals, bigeminy is monitored rather than aggressively treated. Doctors typically focus on lifestyle changes and tracking the condition to prevent complications.
For the art portion of my STEAM Project, I created a visual guide to PVC patterns to help people understand how different arrhythmias look compared to a normal heart rhythm. I illustrated the differences between ventricular bigeminy, trigeminy, and quadrigeminy by comparing them to a normal sinus rhythm on an EKG. This helped show how the timing and patterns of premature beats change with each condition. The art gave me a better understanding of how to read heart rhythms and their differences.
References
Bigeminy: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24576-bigeminy
De Oliveira, B. R., Aparecido Queiroz Duarte, M., & Vieira Filho, J. (2022). Early detection of Ventricular Bigeminy/Trigeminy rhythms. Multi-Science Journal, 5(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.33837/msj.v5i1.1525
Wang, Y., Li, L., Cuculich, P. S., & Rudy, Y. (2008). Electrocardiographic Imaging of Ventricular Bigeminy in a Human Subject. Circulation-Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, 1(1), 74–75. https://doi.org/10.1161/circep.107.753194
Abstract:
Raegen Jeffords’ project is about ventricular bigeminy, which is a personal topic for her as she has a diagnosis of this condition. She experiences symptoms including heart palpitations or a fluttering feeling, especially when undergoing physical or mental stress. Raegen modifies her lifestyle to prevent triggering additional symptoms, primary by avoiding caffeine and other stimulants.
Ventricular bigeminy is a condition that involves an irregular heartbeat (arrythmia) where a premature ventricular contraction occurs on every other heartbeat. Extra beats from the ventricles disrupt the normal electrical signaling from the sinoatrial node. When these premature beats occur frequently, they can exacerbate existing heart conditions or cause discomfort. If the person is otherwise in good health, by themselves the extra beats are inconsequential.
There are different underlying causes of ventricular bigeminy, and symptoms can increase with caffeine, alcohol and stress, but can also indicate heart disease or an imbalance of electrolytes. Regular healthcare and monitoring are important to screen for related problems or increase of severity. If a related heart problem arises, or if the ventricular bigeminy worsens, pharmaceutical or surgical interventions can be offered.
Ventricular bigeminy presents on an EKG as a consistent pattern of alternating premature and normal heartbeats. The condition can impair the efficiency of the heart to pump blood, even more so when other arrythmias coincide. If appropriate intervention when needed does not occur in ventricular bigeminy, cardiomyopathy can result. Most often the condition is monitored versus treated, dependent on age and health status of the patient, and lifestyle changes are implemented to prevent issues arising from the condition.
The art for this project shows the difference between different sinus rhythms, comparing a typical heartbeat, one with ventricular bigeminy, one with ventricular trigeminy, and one with ventricular quadrigeminy. The drawings show exactly where the extra beats occur in the conditions that have premature ventricular contractions, versus an average heartbeat. The art visually emphasizes the exact nature of the different conditions.