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Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs), are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are typically not dangerous and may disappear on their own.

To determine PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital indicators. They might order a Holter Monitor that captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They can also order blood tests for checking your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.

Diagnosis





PVCs happen when electrical impulses from the heart's lower chambers, or ventricles, misfire through a structure referred to as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to delay, which can cause an experience similar to the heart is fluttering or skips beats. PVCs can occur in one pattern or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia is three or more consecutive PVCs.

While some people don't show any symptoms whatsoever Others experience heart palpitations which can feel like the heart beating faster or slower. Other typical symptoms include fatigue or dizziness, or a feeling of being unwell.

Many people who have occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors may recommend a change in the way of life or diet including a reduction in alcohol, caffeine and stress. They may also prescribe medications like beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers which can lower the heart rate and lower blood pressure.

Doctors will ask about the medical history of the patient and perform a physical examination to check their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms over a longer period of time or an electrocardiogram which captures a picture of the electrical activity of the heart. Doctors may order blood tests in some cases to look for imbalances in electrolytes or toxic effects of drugs.

Sometimes, a pvc physician will refer someone to a specialist in heart rhythm problems or an electrophysiologist to conduct a further examination. The doctor can confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are malignant or benign.

PVCs are everywhere and are not usually harmful unless they are used frequently or for a long time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most prevalent in older people or those with some form of heart disease. It can also happen to healthy individuals with a normal, normal heart. However, it's more prevalent in people who regularly exercise. Usually, this isn't an issue to worry about, but it is important to consult an expert if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.

Treatment

For many people, occasional PVCs may not cause any symptoms or require no treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or slurring an entire beat, you need to consult a doctor immediately.

A cardiologist will then interview you and perform physical examinations by listening to your heart using an stethoscope to identify any irregular heartbeats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical impulses of your heart, allowing you to identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is discovered it is recommended to use an portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor is required to capture the abnormal rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the underlying cause for them, like an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicities, or any other cause.

An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to determine whether your heart is in good health and look for any indications of structural issues which could cause PVCs. You might also be asked to take a stress test in order to find out the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase the frequency of PVCs. You can also have blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium and other hormones to determine whether they're low. This can lead to PVCs.

If your doctor confirms that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled any serious illnesses out, the treatment you choose to take depends on how they impact your life and how often they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will suggest any medication to lessen their frequency or severity.

If you are experiencing frequent PVCs that cause pulses or other symptoms, like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your physician might prescribe medications like beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, like avoiding caffeine, smoking and stress levels that are excessive can reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.

Prevention

A person might not experience any symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may feel like "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause a fullness or pressure in the chest, and at other times, they can cause a person to feel faint. These episodes happen because the heart isn't pumping as effectively as normal. Regular PVCs increase a person's risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart enlarges and is unable to pump blood.

PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemistry. This includes the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. Lack of exercise can trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excess weight.

Some people can find that a change in diet can reduce their PVCs. For instance, they could avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause a disturbance to the heartbeat, for example disodium guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627), and diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to ensure that you get enough magnesium.

Regular health checks are essential and include annual physicals. These tests can help identify any heart issues that could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to a healthy eating plan and refrain from smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.

A survey of 14 typical hospital wards revealed that healthcare workers were generally aware of preventive measures against the infection caused by vascular catheters, but their self-assessment of conformity to these procedures was not high. After a feedback intervention the compliance level improved on a few wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that training on the best ways to implement preventive measures is necessary and that areas that are not as well-adjusted should be targeted for infection surveillance. This information can be used to guide the implementation of additional quality improvement initiatives on these wards. This will likely involve further training and education for personnel. It will also involve making sure that the appropriate materials are available for the implementation of the preventive measures.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heart 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, occasional PVCs aren't a problem, and they usually disappear on their own. If you've got a lot of them, it could cause dizziness or weakness. If you're worried about them, consult your doctor about them. You might need to provide a medical history, and they might also perform a physical examination in order to identify the issue. They'll likely also need to do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.

A quick ECG test lets your doctor see the signal of your heartbeat going through your body over a a short period of time. The test will show whether you have PVCs. Your doctor might also suggest a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat for a longer period of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a portable device that records your heart rhythm for 30 days.

Other tests for the heart may be required, based on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist may check your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These can help find if you have a condition that may be responsible for your PVCs like mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.

Your doctor may also have to run a blood test to see what is wrong in your electrolytes, like low potassium or high levels of calcium. This could indicate that you have PVCs or a different problem such as anemia, or anxiety disorders.

the window doctor could be referred 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 perform additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine if you have damage to your heart and how severe it is. In some instances an expert may recommend a pacemaker to treat the issue which is causing the PVCs.