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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 generally not dangerous and may go away by themselves.

Doctors will monitor your heartbeat and also check other vital indicators. They may order a Holter Monitor that records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a span of 24 to 48 hours. They may also request blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.

Diagnosis





PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, a structure located in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing an experience similar to the heart is fluttering or skips beats. PVCs can occur in isolation or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets, while three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the condition known as ventricular Tachycardia (VT).

Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, whereas others experience heart palpitations. It can be felt as an unsteady heartbeat or a slurred heartbeat. Other common symptoms are tiredness or dizziness, or a feeling of being sick.

Many people who suffer from occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a person has frequent episodes, doctors might suggest a change to the way of life or diet like limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They might 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 do a physical exam to check their general health. They may also use 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. In certain instances, doctors may order blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.

A pvc doctor may refer patients to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. The doctor will confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not.

PVCs are fairly common and rarely cause any problems unless they happen frequently over a long time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more prevalent in older people or people suffering from heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. Usually, this isn't an issue to worry about, but it is important to tell an expert if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.

Treatment

PVCs aren't harmful or cause symptoms in many people. They don't require treatment. However those who feel your heart is lagging an beat or is racing, it's important to consult a physician as soon as possible.

A cardiologist will first interview you and perform an examination of your body, listening to your heart using an stethoscope to identify any irregular heartbeats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed, which will record the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is discovered it is recommended to use a portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to capture the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you have PVCs and the cause of them, like an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicity, or other factors.

An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, could be ordered to assess whether your heart is in good health and to look for indications of structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You might also have a stress test to check how your heart responds to exercise, as physical activity can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also have blood tests to check your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to find out whether they are insufficient, which can contribute to the development of PVCs.

If your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs, and has ruled any serious illnesses out, the decision to treat them depends on how they impact your life and how frequently they occur. If they occur only occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will recommend any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.

If you experience frequent PVCs that do cause the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, such as feeling lightheaded or like you're about to faint, your doctor might suggest medication for you, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changing your lifestyle to avoid triggers, such as smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress, can aid in reducing the frequency of instances of these abnormal pulses.

Prevention

A person might not experience any symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may appear as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger a fullness or pressure in the chest. Other times they can make someone feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart is not pumping as efficiently as it normally does. PVCs are linked to an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart gets larger and in a position to not pump blood.

PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical. This is due to the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones and alcohol consumption or caffeine. Stress or excess weight or the absence of exercise can trigger these episodes.

Some people have found that a change in their diet can reduce their PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause disturbances in the heart rhythm, such as disodium guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). You can also consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure they are getting enough magnesium and potassium.

Regular health checks are important as are annual physicals. These tests can help identify any heart-related conditions that could be causing your PVCs. You should also follow an appropriate diet and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.

A survey of healthcare workers on 14 wards of a normal hospital revealed that they were aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat vascular catheter-associated infections however, their self-assessment of compliance with these measures was poor. Compliance improved following an intervention to improve feedback however, it was still low on some of the wards surveyed. This suggests that training on how to implement preventive measures is required and that the wards which are less compliant should be targeted for surveillance of infection. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This could involve more education and training for staff. It will also be necessary to ensure that the right materials for implementing the preventive measures are readily available.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heartbeat to skip or flutter. These arrhythmias aren't necessarily dangerous or they could be an indication of serious heart issues.

In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't an issue and they generally disappear on their own. If you've got many of them, it could cause dizziness or weakening. If you're concerned about them, consult your doctor about the symptoms. You may need to give a medical history, and they might also perform an examination of the body to diagnose the problem. They may also want to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.

A short ECG test lets your doctor see the heartbeat signal going through your body over a an extremely short time. The test will determine if you have PVCs. Your doctor may also decide to do a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat for longer periods of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. window doctor 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 reason behind your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests will determine if you suffer from an illness like heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.

Your doctor may also need to conduct a blood test to determine the issue with your electrolytes. For example, low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that may cause them, like anemia and anxiety disorders.

You may be directed to an electrophysiologist, an expert who specializes in treating abnormal heart rhythms. If you suffer from heart disease that is structural the doctor may need to do other tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether your heart has been damaged and how severe it is. In some instances doctors may suggest a pacemaker to treat the issue that is causing the PVCs.