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Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats aren't usually risky, and they may go away by themselves.
To determine PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat and check other vital indicators. They may order a Holter monitor which records your heart's electrical impulses over 24-48 hours. They can also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, which is a structure in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to delay, which can cause a feeling like the heart is fluttering or skips beats. PVCs can be seen in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive PVCs.
While some people don't show any symptoms Others experience heart palpitations that can be felt as an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other common symptoms are tiredness or dizziness, or a feeling of being sick.
A lot of people who have occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors may suggest a change in lifestyle or diet like limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They may prescribe medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and conduct a physical examination to assess their general health. They can also employ a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms for longer periods of time, or an electrocardiogram, which captures a picture of the electrical activity of the heart. Doctors may request blood tests in some cases to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or drug toxicity.
Sometimes, a pvc doctor will refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm problems, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or malignant.
PVCs are all over the place and are not usually harmful unless they are used frequently or for a long time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more prevalent in older adults or those suffering from heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with a normal heart, although this is more likely for those who exercise regularly. Usually, this isn't an issue to worry about however it is crucial to tell an expert if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many people, sporadic PVCs may not cause any symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. If window doctors feel like your heart is racing or skipping a beat, it's best to seek out a physician immediately.
A cardiologist will start by conducting an interview and then perform a an examination of your body, listening to your heart with the stethoscope to look for irregular beats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical signals of your heart, allowing you to identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is discovered then the use of a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor is required to document the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs, and their cause which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other factors.
You may be required to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine whether your heart health is good and to look for structural issues that could cause PVCs. You may also be asked to undergo an exercise test to assess how your heart reacts to exercise. Physical activity can increase the frequency of pvcs. You can also have blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to determine whether they're low. This could cause PVCs.
If your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs and has ruled any serious illnesses out, the decision to treat them will depend on how they affect your life and how often they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will recommend any medication to lessen their frequency or severity.
However, if you have frequent PVCs that do cause the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, such as feeling lightheaded or like you're about to faint, your doctor might suggest medication for you, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, such as caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can help lower the number of instances of these unusual pulses.
The following is a list of preventatives.
A person may experience no symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may be felt as "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. These episodes can cause an feeling of fullness or pressure, or they can make you feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart is not pumping as efficiently as it normally does. PVCs are associated with an increased chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs often are caused by changes in body chemical balance. These include the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, and drinking caffeine or alcohol. Stress or excess weight and an insufficient amount of exercise can trigger these symptoms.
Some people have found that a change in their diet helps reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause disturbances in the heart rhythm, such as disodium Guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627), and diazole sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure they are getting enough potassium and magnesium.
It is crucial to undergo regular health check-ups, which include annual physicals and laboratory tests. These tests can help identify any heart issues that could be causing your PVCs. You should also refrain from smoking and adhere to an appropriate diet plan. This could increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of 14 typical hospital wards revealed that healthcare personnel were generally aware of preventive measures to avoid the infection caused by vascular catheters, but their self-assessment of conformity to these practices was low. After a feedback intervention that improved compliance on certain wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that education on how to implement preventive measures is essential and that wards which are less compliant should be targeted for surveillance of infection. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. It is likely that this will require additional education and training of personnel. It will also mean making sure that the right tools are available for implementation of the preventive measures.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or be fluttering. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they may be a sign of serious heart problems.
In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't a problem, and they usually disappear on their own. However, if you suffer from several of them, they can cause weakness or dizziness. Consult your doctor if you're worried. They may need to determine the problem by taking a medical history and conducting a physical exam. They may also want to conduct an electrocardiogram or other tests.
An ECG is a simple test that lets your health care provider detect the signal of your heartbeat as it moves through your heart over the course of a brief duration. If you have PVCs, they'll be visible on the test. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat for a longer period of time. This can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias which cause heart palpitations. You might also carry a device that records your heart rate over 30 days, called an event monitor.
Other tests for your heart might be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For example, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure, and also perform an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These tests can tell whether you are suffering from a condition like heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also be required to run an examination of your blood to determine what the problem is in your electrolytes, such as low potassium or high calcium levels. This could be a sign that you have PVCs, or another problem such as anemia, or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred to an electrophysiologist who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. If you suffer from heart disease that is structural, this specialist might need to conduct additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will tell you if you have damage to your heart, and how serious it is. In some cases, the doctor might recommend an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is creating your PVCs.