Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats aren't usually risky, and they may disappear on their own.
To determine PVC Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and check other vital indicators. They might order a Holter monitor which records the electrical impulses your heart produces over the course of 24 hours. They may also order blood tests for checking your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that misfire through the SA node, a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing the sensation of racing or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen in one pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs constitute ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, while others experience heart palpitations. This can feel like an unsteady heartbeat or a rapid heartbeat. Other symptoms that are common are fatigue or dizziness, or a feeling of being unwell.
A lot of people who have occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors may suggest a change in the way of life or diet, such as limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They might prescribe beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history, and then perform a physical examination to determine their general health. They may also employ an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take an image of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor which is worn for longer durations and captures the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may order blood tests in certain cases to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or drug toxicity.
Sometimes, a pvc physician will refer someone to a specialist for heart rhythm problems or an electrophysiologist for further evaluation. This specialist can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not.
PVCs are fairly common and rarely cause any issues, unless they happen frequently over a long period of time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiac myopathy. This is most prevalent in people who are older or those suffering from some type of heart disease. This can happen to healthy people with normal, normal hearts. However, it's more common in those who exercise regularly. Usually, this isn't an issue that is serious however it is crucial to speak with a doctor if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful or cause symptoms in many people. They don't require treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or slurring the beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will start by interviewing you and performing a an examination of your body, monitoring your heart using the stethoscope to look for irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed that records the electrical impulses in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected then a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to capture the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you have PVCs, and their cause which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other factors.
An echocardiogram, an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to assess whether your heart is healthy and look for any indications of structural issues that can lead to PVCs. You might also be asked to take an exercise test to find out the response of your heart to exercise. Physical activity can increase the frequency of pvcs. You can also have blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone as well as potassium, magnesium, 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 illnesses, the decision on whether to treat them will depend on how much they're impacting your life and how frequently they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will prescribe any medication to decrease their frequency or severity.
However, if you have frequent PVCs that do cause the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, such as light-headedness or feeling like you're about to faint, your doctor might suggest medication like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, such as smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can also help lower the number of times you experience these abnormal pulses.
The following is a list of preventions.
A person may experience no symptoms at all from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that 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 times, they can make a person feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. PVCs are associated with a higher risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and in a position to not pump blood.
window doctor are often caused by changes in body chemistry. This can be caused by the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, as well drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or excess weight or an insufficient amount of exercise can trigger these episodes.
Certain people find that changing their diet can help reduce PVCs. They can, for example, avoid foods that contain preservatives which could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and diazole, and disodium Inosinate Sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits to ensure they're getting sufficient magnesium and potassium.
Regular health checks are essential and include annual physicals. These tests can help diagnose any heart-related conditions that could cause your PVCs. Also, you should avoid smoking and follow a healthy diet plan. This can 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-assessed conformity to these practices was low. After a feedback intervention, compliance improved on some wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that training on how to implement preventive measures is necessary, and that those areas that are not as well-adjusted should be targeted for surveillance of infection. This information can be used to guide the implementation of additional quality improvement initiatives on these wards. It is likely that this will require further education and training for personnel. It will also be necessary to ensure that the appropriate materials for implementing the preventive measures are available.
Signs and symptoms
The premature contraction of the ventricular muscle can cause your heart to skip beats or flutter. These arrhythmias aren't necessarily dangerous or they can be a sign of serious heart issues.
In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't a problem and they usually go away on their own. If you're suffering from many of them, they may cause weakness or dizziness. Talk to your doctor if you're worried. You might need to provide your medical history and they might also perform an examination of the body to determine the cause. They might also need to perform an electrocardiogram or other tests.
A quick ECG test allows your doctor to see the signal of your heartbeat moving through your body over an extremely short time. If you have PVCs, they will show on the test. Your doctor might also want to perform an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over longer periods of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, a portable device that keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for your heart might be required, based on the cause of your PVCs. For instance, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure, and also perform an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These tests can reveal if you have a condition that is causing your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also be required to run an examination of your blood to determine what the problem is in your electrolytes, for example, low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This can be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, such as anxiety disorders and anemia.
You may be referred to an electrophysiologist who can treat irregular heart rhythms. The doctor may be required to conduct additional tests if you suffer from heart conditions that cause structural damage like a CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether your heart has been damaged and how severe the damage is. In some instances, the doctor may suggest a pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is the cause of your PVCs.