PACs stands for Premature Atrial Contractions. PACs belong to which category?

• A. Cardiac Arrhythmias
• B. Coronary Artery Disease
• C. Peripheral Vascular Disease
• D. Valvular Heart Disease

Answer: (A)

Premature Atrial Contractions are a type of cardiac rhythm abnormality, i.e., an arrhythmia. They occur when an electrical impulse fires earlier than the normal sinus beat from an atrial focus, causing an premature P wave and an early beat followed by a typically normal rhythm. This classification is about the heart’s electrical activity and rhythm, not about structural or flow problems.

That’s why they fall under cardiac arrhythmias rather than coronary artery disease (issues with blood supply to the heart), peripheral vascular disease (vascular problems outside the heart), or valvular heart disease (problems with the heart valves). In short, PACs are a rhythm disturbance, not a disease of the arteries, vessels, or valves.