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Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not harmful and will disappear on their own.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vitals indicators. They might order a Holter Monitor which records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a span of 24 to 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to assess your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, which is a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing an experience similar to fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs can occur in one pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the term ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
While some people don't show any symptoms whatsoever, others feel palpitations, which can feel like an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other typical symptoms include fatigue, dizziness or a sensation of being unwell.
A lot of people who have occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors may recommend a change in the way of life or diet, such as limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They may also prescribe medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers, which can slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and perform an examination of the body to determine their general health. They can also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take an image of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor which is worn for longer time periods and captures the heart's rhythms over time. In some cases doctors may require blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm issues, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. The doctor can confirm a diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are malignant or benign.
PVCs can be found everywhere and are generally not harmful when used frequently or for a long period of time. This could lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more prevalent in older adults or those with heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however this is more likely for those who exercise regularly. Usually, this isn't a serious concern however it is crucial to consult your doctor if you experience symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful and do not cause symptoms in many people. They don't require treatment. However those who do experience a sensation like their heart has skipped an beat or is racing, it's vital to see a doctor as soon as possible.
A cardiologist will interview you and conduct an examination of your body, listening to your heart using the stethoscope in order to detect any irregular beats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done, which will record the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected then you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or a portable ECG will be required to detect the irregular rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and their causes like an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other causes.
You may be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine whether your heart health is in good order and to look for structural issues that could cause PVCs. You might also be required to undergo a stress test in order to determine how your heart reacts to exercise. Exercise can increase your frequency of pvcs. You can also get blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium and other hormones to see whether they're insufficient. This could cause PVCs.
After your doctor has determined that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled out any serious illness, the decision of whether or not to treat them will depend on how much they're impacting your life and how often they occur. If they occur only occasionally and do not cause symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any treatment that will reduce their frequency or severity.
If you experience frequent PVCs that can trigger pulses or other symptoms, such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, like abstaining from smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress can also decrease the frequency of these irregular pulses.
Prevention
A person might not experience any symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can be felt as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes cause an increase in pressure or fullness in the chest, and at other occasions, they may cause a person to feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart isn't pumping as effectively as normal. Frequent PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart gets larger and becomes ineffective at pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemical chemistry. These include the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, in addition to drinking caffeine or alcohol. Stress or weight gain and a lack of exercise, can trigger these episodes.
Some people can find that a change in their diet can reduce their PVCs. They can, for instance avoid foods that contain preservatives that could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, diazole, and disodium Inosinate Sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to take in more fruits and vegetables to ensure they're getting sufficient magnesium and potassium.
It is important to get regular health check-ups, which include yearly physicals and lab tests. These tests can help you identify any heart issues that could cause your PVCs. Also, you should refrain from smoking and adhere to a healthy diet plan. This could increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 wards of a normal hospital found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures to avoid vascular catheter-associated infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these measures was poor. After a feedback program the compliance level improved on a few wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that education is required to implement preventive measures, and those wards that are less than compliant should be targeted for monitoring of infection. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely require more education and training for personnel. It will also be important to ensure that the right materials for implementing the preventive measures are in place.
Signs and symptoms
Involuntary ventricular contractions that are premature can cause your heartbeat to skip or flutter. These arrhythmias can be harmless, or they could indicate you have serious heart problems.
In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't an issue and they usually go away on their own. If repairmywindowsanddoors got a lot of them, it could cause dizziness or weakness. Consult your doctor if you're worried. They may need to determine the problem by taking an medical history and performing a physical exam. They might also need to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
A quick ECG test lets your doctor see the heartbeat signal going through your body over a an extremely short time. The test will reveal whether you have PVCs. Your doctor may also suggest the use of a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat for a longer period of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other types of arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, which is a portable device which tracks your heart's rhythm over 30 days.
Other heart tests may be required, based on the cause of your PVCs. For instance, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These can help find whether you suffer from a condition that is responsible for your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to run an analysis of your blood to determine the problem with electrolytes. For example, low potassium or high levels of calcium. This can be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, such as anxiety disorders and anemia.
You could be directed to an electrophysiologist, one of the specialists who specialize in treating irregular heart rhythms. If you have heart disease that is structural the specialist may have to conduct additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will help determine if your heart is damaged and the severity of the damage. In some instances, the doctor might suggest the use of a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying issue the cause of your PVCs.