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Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs), are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not dangerous and may go away by themselves.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vitals signs. They may order an Holter monitor which is a device that tracks your heart's electrical impulses over 24-48 hours. They can also request blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that reverberate through the SA node, which is a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to a feeling like fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, whereas others experience heart palpitations. It could be an unsteady heartbeat or a slurred heartbeat. Other signs include dizziness, fatigue, or feeling unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If a patient is experiencing frequent episodes, a physician might recommend a change in the diet or lifestyle. For example restricting caffeine, stress, and alcohol. They may also prescribe medications, such as calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers which can lower the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will inquire about their medical history, and then perform an examination of the body to determine their general health. They can also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to get a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor which is worn for longer periods and monitors the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may order blood tests in certain cases to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or toxic substances in the body.
A pvc doctor may refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. This doctor can confirm a diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or malignant.
PVCs are everywhere and are not usually harmful unless they are used regularly or for a long time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more prevalent in older adults or people suffering from heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with normal heart function, but this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. It's not a serious issue, but you should inform your doctor if symptoms such as fainting or fatigue occur.
Treatment
For many people, occasional PVCs might not cause symptoms or require no treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or slurring a beat, it's best to seek out a physician immediately.
A cardiologist will begin by conducting an interview and then perform a physical examination, and listening to your heart with the stethoscope to look for irregular beats. You'll also undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical impulses of your heart to detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found, an all-day Holter monitor or a portable ECG will be required to detect the irregular rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the reason for them, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other causes.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, could be ordered to assess whether your heart is in good health and look for any signs of structural problems that could lead to PVCs. You could also have an exercise test to determine how your heart reacts to exercise, since physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also take blood tests to test your thyroid hormone as well as potassium, magnesium and other hormones to determine whether they're insufficient. window doctor near me could lead to PVCs.
If your doctor confirms that you suffer from PVCs, and has ruled any serious diseases out, the treatment option you choose is based on the impact they have on your life and how frequently they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will recommend any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.
If you experience frequent PVCs that cause heart palpitations, or other symptoms such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes such as abstaining from smoking, caffeine and stress, can also reduce the frequency of these irregular pulses.
Prevention
There are people who do not experience symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that can feel like "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes cause a fullness or pressure in the chest. Other times, they can make someone feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as well as it should. PVCs are associated with a higher chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart gets larger and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemistry. This includes the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline and alcohol consumption or caffeine. Inactivity can also trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excessive weight.
Some people have found that a change in diet helps reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause disturbances in the heart rhythm, such as disodium guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627) and diazole sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to get sufficient magnesium.
Regular health checks are important as are annual physicals. These can help diagnose any heart-related conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to a healthy eating plan and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of 14 normal hospital wards revealed that healthcare personnel were generally aware of preventive measures to avoid infections caused by vascular catheters, however their self-assessment of compliance to these practices was low. After a feedback intervention, compliance improved on some areas, but was still very low. This suggests that education is required on how to implement preventive measures and those wards that are not than compliant should be targeted for monitoring of infection. This information could be used to help in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will likely require additional training and education for staff. It will also involve making sure that the appropriate materials are in place for the implementing of the preventive measures.
Signs and symptoms
The premature contraction of the ventricular muscle can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or flutter. These arrhythmias could be harmless, or they could be a sign that you have heart issues that are serious.
In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not an issue. They typically disappear on their own. However, if you suffer from several of them, they may cause weakness or dizziness. Consult your doctor if you're worried. You might be required to provide an medical history, and they may also conduct a physical examination in order to identify the issue. They might also conduct an electrocardiogram or other tests.
An ECG is a simple test that lets your health care provider observe the signal generated by your heartbeat as it travels through your heart over an extremely short period of time. The test will reveal whether you have PVCs. Your doctor may also suggest to conduct an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat for longer durations of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You may also carry a device that records your heart rate over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor.
Other heart tests might be needed, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For instance a cardiologist could check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests can reveal whether you suffer from a condition that may be 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 what is wrong with your electrolytes like low potassium or high levels of calcium. This could indicate that you suffer from PVCs or a different problem such as anemia, or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred an electrophysiologist who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. The specialist might need to perform other tests if you suffer from structural heart diseases like the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can tell whether you've suffered damage to your heart and how severe it is. In some instances doctors may suggest an implanted pacemaker to treat the issue which is causing the PVCs.
