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Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are typically not dangerous and may be cured by themselves.
To determine PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital signs. They may order a Holter monitor which is a device that tracks your heart's electrical impulses over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They may also order blood tests to determine your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.
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 delay, which can cause the sensation of fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs can occur in isolation or in repeated patterns. Doublets are PVCs that occur in a series of. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive ones.
While some people don't show any symptoms at all, others feel palpitations, which can feel like the heart beating faster or slower. Other symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, or a feeling that you're unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a doctor might suggest a change in diet or lifestyle. For instance restricting caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They may also prescribe medication like calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers, which can slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask about the person's medical history and do a physical exam to check their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms over longer durations, or an electrocardiogram, which records a snapshot of the electrical activity in the heart. In certain instances doctors may require blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
A pvc doctor may refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. The doctor can confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are malignant or benign.
PVCs are quite common and don't usually cause any issues, unless they happen frequently over a long period of time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more common in older people or those suffering from heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. It's not a serious issue, but you should tell your doctor if symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
For many people, occasional PVCs may not cause any symptoms or require no treatment. But those who feel their heart has skipped an beat or is racing, it's vital to consult a physician as soon as you can.
A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and doing a physical exam, listening to your heart with an stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done to record the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified it is recommended to use an portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor is required to document the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices can help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the reason for them, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other causes.
You might be requested to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine if your heart health is in good shape and to check for structural problems which could lead to PVCs. You might also have a stress test to see how your heart reacts to exercise, as physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also take blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to see whether they're insufficient. This could lead to PVCs.
If your doctor confirms that you have PVCs, and has ruled any serious diseases out, the treatment you choose to take will depend on how they affect your life and the frequency they occur. If they happen only infrequently and don't cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any medication that will reduce their frequency or severity.
If you have frequent PVCs that can trigger heart palpitations, or other symptoms such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medication such as beta blockers and 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 preventions.
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, which may be described as "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. These episodes can create an feeling of pressure or fullness or they can make you feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as effectively as it should. PVCs are associated with a higher risk of developing dilated cardiac myopathy. This is a condition where the heart expands and becomes is unable to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical. This is due to the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline, as well drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or weight gain and an insufficient amount of exercise can trigger these symptoms.
Certain people find that a change in diet can reduce their PVCs. They can, for example avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause a disturbance of the heart rhythm. These include disodium Guanylate, diazole, and disodium inosinate Sodium (E282-283). You can also eat more vegetables and fruits to ensure they are getting enough magnesium and potassium.
It is crucial to undergo regular health checks, which include yearly physicals and lab tests. These tests can help diagnose any heart conditions that may cause your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to a healthy eating plan and avoid smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of 14 typical hospital wards found 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 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 education is needed on how to implement preventive measures and that wards that are less compliant need to be targeted for infection monitoring. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely require further training and education for staff. It will also be important to ensure that the appropriate tools for implementing the preventive measures are available.
Signs and symptoms
If you feel your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it may be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless, or they could indicate you are suffering from serious heart issues.
In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't an issue and they usually go away on their own. However, if you suffer from many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. If you're worried, talk to your doctor about them. They might need to diagnose the problem by taking a medical history and performing a physical exam. They'll also probably want to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A quick ECG test lets your doctor see the signal of your heartbeat going through your body over a the course of a brief period. If you have PVCs, they will show in the test. Your doctor may also decide to do an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat for longer periods of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, which is a portable device that keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for your heart might be required, depending on the reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist may check your blood pressure, or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can tell whether you are suffering from an issue such as heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also be required to do an examination of your blood to determine what's wrong with your electrolytes such as low potassium or high calcium levels. This could be a sign that you suffer from PVCs, or another condition such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You could be directed to an electrophysiologist, a specialist who specializes in treating irregular heart rhythms. If double glazing doctor have heart disease that is structural, this specialist might need to perform additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine if your heart is damaged and how severe the damage is. In some cases, the doctor may suggest an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying condition that's creating your PVCs.
