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Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are usually not hazardous, and they could go away on their own.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and check other vitals indicators. They may order a Holter Monitor which captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a time of between 24 and 48 hours. They may also request blood tests to assess the levels of electrolytes and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, which is a structure located in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to an experience similar to fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs may occur alone or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia is three or more consecutive PVCs.
Some people do not experience any symptoms, while others experience heart palpitations. This can feel like an unsteady heartbeat or a slurred heartbeat. Other typical symptoms include fatigue, dizziness or a sensation of being unwell.
Many people who have occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a patient is experiencing frequent episodes, a doctor may recommend a change to the diet or lifestyle. For instance restricting caffeine and stress as well as alcohol. They can prescribe medications such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and conduct a physical exam to check their general health. They can also employ a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms over a longer period of time or an electrocardiogram which records a snapshot of the electrical activity within the heart. Doctors may require blood tests in certain cases to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or toxic substances in the body.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor may refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm issues, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. This doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are benign or malignant.
PVCs are common and rarely cause any problems unless they occur frequently over a long time. This can cause a weakening in the heart muscle or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common for people over the age of 65 or those suffering from any form of heart disease. It can also occur to healthy people who have a normal, normal heart. However, it's more prevalent among those who regularly exercise. Usually, this isn't an issue to worry about however it is crucial to tell an expert if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful and do not cause symptoms in a lot of people. They don't require treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or not making an entire beat, you need to seek out a physician immediately.
A cardiologist will begin by interviewing you and doing a physical exam, listening to your heart with the stethoscope to look for irregular beats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done to record the electrical impulses in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected then an all-day Holter monitor or other portable ECG is required to capture the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the underlying cause for them, like an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicity, or other factors.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to assess whether your heart is in good health and to look for indications of structural issues which could cause PVCs. You might also be required to undergo an exercise test to determine how your heart reacts to exercise. Physical activity can increase the frequency of pvcs. You may also undergo blood tests to assess your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to find out if they are too low which could contribute to the formation of PVCs.
If your doctor confirms that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled any serious diseases out, the treatment you choose to take is based on the impact they have on your life and the frequency they occur. If they occur only occasionally and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will suggest any medication to lessen the frequency or severity of them.
However, if you have frequent PVCs that trigger palpitations and 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, like smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress, can reduce the frequency of instances of these irregular pulses.
Prevention
There are people who do not experience symptoms at all from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can be felt as "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. the window doctor can trigger a feeling of fullness or pressure, or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes happen because the heart isn't functioning as efficiently as it should. PVCs are linked to an increased chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry. This includes the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline, as well drinking alcohol or caffeine. Lack of exercise can trigger these episodes, as can stress or excess weight.
Certain people find that a change in diet helps reduce their PVCs. For instance, they could avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause a disturbance to the heartbeat, for example disodium guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.
It is crucial to undergo regular health checks, which include annual physicals and lab tests. These can help diagnose any heart-related conditions which could be causing your PVCs. You should also not smoke and adhere to a healthy diet plan. This can increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of 14 typical hospital wards showed that healthcare workers were generally aware of preventive measures against the infection caused by vascular catheters, but their self-assessment of compliance to these guidelines was low. Compliance improved after an intervention to improve feedback, but was still low on a few of the wards surveyed. This suggests that training is needed on how to implement preventive measures, and those wards that are not conforming should be targeted for monitoring of infection. This information can then be used to help in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will likely involve additional education and training for personnel. It will also mean making sure that the correct materials are available for the implementation of the preventive measures.
Signs and symptoms
The premature contraction of the ventricular muscle can cause your heart to skip beats or be fluttering. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they may be the sign of heart issues.
In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not any problem. They typically disappear by themselves. If you have many of them, it could cause dizziness or weakness. Consult your doctor if worried. They may need to determine the issue by taking an history of your medical condition and conducting a physical exam. They may also conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A short ECG test lets your doctor see the signal of your heartbeat moving through your body over an extremely short time. If you have PVCs, they will show in the test. Your doctor might also suggest the use of a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over a longer amount of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You might also be wearing a device that can record your heart rate over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor.
Other tests for the heart may be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests will determine whether you are suffering from a condition like heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also have to do a blood test to see what's wrong in your electrolytes, like low potassium or high levels of calcium. This could indicate that you have PVCs, or another health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred to a specialist in electrophysiology, who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. The specialist might need to conduct additional tests if you suffer from heart problems that are structural, such as the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will help determine whether your heart has been damaged and how severe the damage is. In some instances an expert may recommend pacemakers to treat the condition that causes the PVCs.
