Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are generally not harmful and will be cured by themselves.
To diagnose PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat and check other vital signs. They may order a Holter Monitor that captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a span of 24 to 48 hours. They may also request blood tests to determine your thyroid and electrolyte levels. hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that reverberate through the SA node, which is a structure 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, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people don't experience any symptoms whatsoever Some experience palpitations, which can feel like an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other symptoms are dizziness, fatigue or a feeling that you're unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a person has frequent episodes, doctors might suggest a change in the way of life or diet, such as limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They can prescribe medications such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history, and then perform an examination of the body to check on their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms over longer durations, or an electrocardiogram, which records a snapshot of the electrical activity of the heart. In certain instances doctors may require blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm problems, or an electrophysiologist, for further evaluation. This specialist can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs can be found everywhere and are generally not harmful unless they are used frequently or for a long time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more common for people over the age of 65 or those with any form of heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with normal heart function, but this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. It's not an issue to worry about but it's important to speak with a doctor if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many people, sporadic PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or require no treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or skipping a beat, it's best to see a doctor right away.
A cardiologist will first interview you and conduct physical examinations, listening to your heart through an stethoscope to identify any irregular heartbeats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) done that records the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and door and window doctor reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found then a 24-hour Holter monitor or a portable ECG is required to capture the abnormal rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you have PVCs, and their cause which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other causes.
You may be required to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine whether your heart health is in good order and to look for structural problems which could lead to PVCs. You may also be required to undergo stress tests to assess the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase the frequency of pvcs. You can also get blood tests to check your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to see whether they're low. This could cause PVCs.
After your doctor has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled out any serious diseases and has made a decision about whether or not to treat them will be contingent on the degree to which they're affecting your life and how often they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms then your doctor is unlikely to prescribe any medication that can decrease their frequency or severity.
If you experience frequent PVCs that cause pulses or other symptoms, like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medication such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes such as cutting down on smoking, caffeine and stress, can reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
The following is a list of preventions.
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations that can be described as "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause an increase in pressure or fullness in the window doctors chest, and at other occasions, they may cause a person to feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as well as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased risk of developing dilated cardiac myopathy. This is a condition where the heart gets larger and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical chemistry. This includes the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline and alcohol consumption or caffeine. Stress or weight gain or a lack of exercise, can trigger these symptoms.
Some people find that changing their diet can help reduce the amount of PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods with preservatives, which can cause a disturbance to the heartbeat, for example disodium Guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.
Regular health checks are essential as are annual physicals. These tests can help diagnose any heart-related conditions that could cause your PVCs. It is also recommended to avoid smoking and follow a healthy diet program. This can increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of 14 regular hospital wards revealed that healthcare workers were generally aware of preventive measures for vascular catheter-associated infection, but their self-assessment of compliance to these procedures was not high. Compliance improved after an intervention to improve feedback however it was still very low on a few of the observed wards. This suggests that training on the best ways to implement preventive measures is required and that the wards which are less compliant should be targeted for infection surveillance. This information could be used to guide the implementation of additional quality improvement initiatives on these wards. This will most likely require additional education and training of staff. It will also involve making sure that the right materials are in place for the implementing of the preventive measures.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or to flutter. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they could be the sign of heart issues.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They typically disappear on their own. But if you have a lot of them, they could lead to dizziness or weakness. Talk to your doctor if you're concerned. You may need to give an medical history, and they might also perform an examination to determine the cause. They'll also probably want to do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A quick ECG test allows your doctor to see the heartbeat signal going through your body over a the course of a brief period. The test will determine whether you have PVCs. Your doctor might also suggest the use of a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over a longer amount of time. This can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias which cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, which is a portable device which keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for the heart may be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For instance a cardiologist could check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These tests will determine whether you are suffering from an illness like heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also need to perform an analysis of your blood to determine the problem with your electrolytes. For instance, you may have low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign that you suffer from PVCs, or another condition such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred a specialist in electrophysiology, who can treat irregular heart rhythms. This specialist may need to conduct other tests if you are suffering from structural heart diseases, such as a CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will tell you whether you've suffered damage to your heart and how serious it is. In some instances, the windows doctor might recommend an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying issue the cause of your PVCs.