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Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contracts (PVCs), are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not risky, and they may disappear by themselves.

To determine PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital signs. They may order a Holter monitor which tracks your heart's electrical impulses over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They can also request blood tests to check your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.

Diagnosis

PVCs happen when electrical impulses from the lower chambers of the heart, or ventricles, misfire through a structure known as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to an experience similar to racing or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen in one pattern or repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia can be described as three or more consecutive PVCs.

Some people don't experience any symptoms Others experience heart palpitations which can feel like an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other common symptoms are tiredness, dizziness or a sensation of being unwell.

A lot of people who have occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If window doctor near me has frequent episodes, doctors may suggest a change in diet or lifestyle, such as limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They may prescribe medication such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.

Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history, and then perform an examination of the body to determine their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to get a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor that is worn for longer time periods and captures the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may order blood tests in certain cases to look for imbalances in electrolytes or toxic effects of drugs.

Sometimes, a pvc physician will refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm issues, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or malignant.

PVCs are common and rarely cause any problems, unless they happen frequently over a long time. This can cause weakening of the heart muscle or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more prevalent in older people or people 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. Usually, this isn't an issue to worry about but it's important to speak with an expert if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.

Treatment

For many, occasional PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or skipping the beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately.

A cardiologist will then interview you and then perform an examination of your body, listening to your heart with an stethoscope to identify any irregular heartbeats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed that records the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been detected, an portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to record the abnormal rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the underlying cause for them, such as an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicities, or other causes.

An echocardiogram, an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to assess if your heart is healthy and look for any signs of structural problems that can lead to PVCs. You may also be asked to undergo a stress test in order to assess how your heart reacts to exercise. Physical activity can increase the frequency of PVCs. You can also have blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to see if they're too low. This could cause PVCs.

After your doctor confirms that you have PVCs and has ruled any serious illness out, the decision to treat them is based on the impact they have on your life and the frequency they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will suggest any medication to reduce the frequency or severity of them.

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 recommend medications, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, such as smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can also help lower the number of occurrences of these abnormal pulses.

Prevention

There are people who do not experience symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may be felt as "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes cause an increase in pressure or fullness in the chest, and at other occasions, they may cause a person to feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as well as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart becomes enlarged and is unable to pump blood.

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

Some people have found that a change in their diet helps to reduce their PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods with preservatives, which can cause a disturbance to the heart rhythm, such as disodium Guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627), and diazole sodium (E282-283). You can also take in more fruits and vegetables to ensure they're getting enough potassium and magnesium.

It is important to get regular health checks, including yearly physicals and lab tests. They can aid in identifying any underlying heart conditions which could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to an eat-healthy diet and refrain from smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.





A survey of healthcare professionals on 14 normal hospital wards revealed that they were aware of the preventive measures for vascular catheter-related infections However, their self-assessed compliance with these practices was poor. Compliance improved after a feedback intervention however it was still very low on a few of the observed wards. This suggests that education on how to implement preventive measures is required and that the areas that are not as well-adjusted should be targeted for infection surveillance. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely involve additional training and education for staff. It will also require making sure that the appropriate materials are in place for the implementing of the preventive measures.

Symptoms

If you feel that your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it may be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias could be normal, or they could indicate that you have serious heart problems.

In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They usually disappear by themselves. If you have many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. If you're concerned you might be experiencing dizziness or weakness, talk to your doctor about the symptoms. They may have to identify the issue by taking a medical history and performing an examination. They might also need to perform an electrocardiogram or other tests.

A short ECG test will allow your doctor to observe the pulse of your heart moving through your body for a the course of a brief period. The test will show if you have PVCs. Your doctor might also want to conduct a 24- or 48-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 can also wear an event monitor, which is a portable device which tracks your heart's rhythm over 30 days.

Other tests for your heart might be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For instance, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests can tell whether you have an issue such as heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.

Your doctor may also need to perform an analysis of your blood to determine the problem with electrolytes. For example, low potassium levels or a high level of calcium. This could be a sign that you have PVCs, or another condition such as anemia or anxiety disorders.

You could be referred to an electrophysiologist a specialist who specializes in treating abnormal heart rhythms. This specialist may need to conduct other tests if you have heart conditions that cause structural damage, such as a CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can tell if you have damage to your heart and how severe it is. In certain cases, a specialist may recommend a pacemaker to treat the issue that is causing the PVCs.