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Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats aren't usually dangerous, and they can go away by themselves.

Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They might order an Holter monitor which records your heart's electrical impulses over a period 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 found in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to the sensation of racing or skipped beats. PVCs may occur alone or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the term ventricular Tachycardia (VT).

Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, whereas others experience heart palpitations. This can feel like an unsteady heartbeat or a slurred heartbeat. Other signs include dizziness, fatigue, or a feeling of being unwell.

Many people who experience occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a patient is experiencing frequent episodes, a physician may recommend a change to diet or lifestyle. For example restricting caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They might prescribe medications such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.

Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history, and then perform an examination to assess their general health. They can also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take an image of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor, which is worn for longer durations and monitors the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may require blood tests in some cases to check for electrolyte imbalances or toxic substances in the body.

Sometimes, a pvc doctor will refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm issues, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.

PVCs are everywhere and are generally not harmful when used frequently or for long periods of time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common in people who are older or those with some form of heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however this is more likely for those who exercise regularly. This is not a serious issue, but you should tell your doctor if symptoms such as fainting or fatigue occur.

Treatment

For many, occasional PVCs might not cause symptoms or are harmless and need no treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or slurring a beat, it's best to seek out a physician immediately.

A cardiologist will interview you and perform a physical examination and listen to your heart using a stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done, which will record the electrical impulses in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found it is recommended to have you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or other portable ECG will be needed to detect 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, drug toxicity, or other factors.

An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to assess whether your heart is healthy and check for signs of structural problems that could lead to PVCs. You could also have a stress test to check how your heart reacts to exercise, since physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You may also undergo blood tests to check your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to find out if they are too low and can cause the formation of PVCs.

After your doctor has determined that you're suffering from PVCs and has ruled out any serious illness 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 frequently they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will recommend any medication to lessen their frequency or severity.

If you experience frequent PVCs that can trigger pulses or other symptoms, such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medication such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Altering your lifestyle to avoid triggers, such as smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can also aid in reducing the frequency of occurrences of these irregular pulses.

The following is a list with preventions.

A person may experience no symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can be felt as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes cause the chest to feel full or swollen in the chest, and at other occasions, they may make a person feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. The frequent PVCs increase the risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. a condition wherein the heart gets larger and is not able to pump blood.

PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemistry. They can be caused by the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or excess weight and the absence of exercise can trigger these symptoms.

Certain people find that a change in their diet can reduce their PVCs. They can, for example avoid foods that contain preservatives that can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and diazole, and disodium inosinate Sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits to ensure that they get sufficient magnesium and potassium.

Regular health checks are important, including yearly physicals. These tests can help identify any underlying heart conditions which could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to avoid smoking and follow an appropriate diet program. This can increase your frequency of episodes.

windows doctor of healthcare professionals on 14 wards of a normal hospital found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures to avoid vascular catheter-associated infections However, their self-assessed compliance with these guidelines was poor. Compliance improved following feedback interventions however it was still very lower on some of the observed wards. This suggests that education on how to implement the preventive measures is required, and that those areas that are not as well-adjusted should be targeted for surveillance of infection. This information can then be used to help in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will likely require additional education and training for staff. It will also be important to ensure that the appropriate tools for implementing the preventive measures are in place.

Symptoms

If you feel your heart is racing or fluttering, it may be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias aren't necessarily dangerous or they may be an indication of serious heart issues.

In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not an issue. They generally disappear by themselves. If you're suffering from several of them, they could lead to dizziness or weakness. If you're concerned about them, consult your doctor about the symptoms. They may have to identify the problem by taking an history of your medical condition and conducting an examination. They might also need to conduct an electrocardiogram or other tests.

A quick ECG test allows your doctor to 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 on the test. Your doctor may also suggest to conduct an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor that records your heartbeat for longer periods of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a handheld device that keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.

Other tests for the heart may be required, based on the reason for your PVCs. For instance a cardiologist could check your blood pressure, and also perform an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These tests will determine if you suffer from an illness such as heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.

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





You might be referred to an electrophysiologist one of the specialists who specialize in treating irregular heart rhythms. The doctor may be required to perform other tests if you are suffering from heart problems that are structural like the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will tell you if you have damage to your heart, and how serious it is. In some instances, a specialist may recommend a pacemaker to treat the condition that causes the PVCs.