Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats usually aren't dangerous, and they can disappear by themselves.
To diagnose PVC doctors listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital indicators. They may also order a Holter Monitor that records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a period of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also order blood tests for checking your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs occur when electrical impulses from the lower chambers of the heart ventricles, or lower chambers, fail to pass through a structure called the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing an experience similar to the heart is fluttering or skips beats. PVCs can be seen in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Doublets are PVCs that occur in a series of. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive ones.
Some people don't experience any symptoms at all Others experience heart palpitations which can feel like the heart beating faster or slower. Other typical symptoms include fatigue, dizziness or a sensation of being sick.
Many people who have occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors might suggest a change to lifestyle or diet, such as limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They can prescribe beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
window doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and perform a physical examination to check their general health. They may also employ an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor which is worn for longer time periods and monitors the heart's rhythms over time. In some cases, doctors may order blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
Sometimes, a pvc doctor may refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm problems, or an electrophysiologist, for further evaluation. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs are fairly common and don't usually cause any problems unless they occur frequently over a long period of time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most prevalent in older people or those with some type of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with a normal heart, although it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. Most of the time, this isn't an issue to worry about, but it is important to consult a doctor if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful or cause symptoms in many people. They don't require treatment. However, for those who feel your heart is lagging an beat or is racing, it's vital to see a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will first interview you and perform an examination of your body and listen to your heart using a stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed to record the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified, you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or other portable ECG will be required to detect the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the reason for them like an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other causes.
An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, could be ordered to assess if your heart is healthy and look for any indications of structural issues that can lead to PVCs. You could also have an exercise test to determine how your heart responds to exercise, since physical activity can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also take blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium and other hormones to determine whether they're low. This can lead to PVCs.
After your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs and has ruled out any serious illnesses and has made a decision about whether to treat them will be contingent on the extent to which they impact your life and how frequently they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will recommend any medication to decrease their frequency or severity.
If you experience frequent PVCs that can trigger palpitations or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your physician may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, such as avoiding caffeine, smoking, and excessive stress can reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
The following is a list of preventatives.
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations which may feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause a fullness or pressure in the chest, and at other times, they can make someone feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart is not pumping as effectively as normal. Frequent PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. a condition where the heart enlarges and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs often are 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. A lack of exercise can trigger these symptoms like stress or excess weight.
Some people find that changing their diet can reduce PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods with preservatives, which can cause a disturbance in the heartbeat, for example disodium guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.
It is important to get regular health check-ups, which include yearly physicals and lab tests. These tests can help you identify any heart issues that could be causing your PVCs. You should also follow an eat-healthy diet and avoid smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 wards of a normal hospital found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures to avoid vascular catheter-related infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these practices was not great. Compliance improved after an intervention to improve feedback however it was still very lower on some of the wards surveyed. This suggests that training on how to implement preventive measures is required, and that those wards which are less compliant should be targeted for surveillance of infection. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. It is likely that this will require additional education and training of staff. It is also necessary to ensure that the appropriate tools to implement the preventive measures are available.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heart to skip beats or to flutter. These arrhythmias aren't necessarily dangerous or they can be an indication of serious heart issues.
In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not any problem. They generally disappear by themselves. If you're suffering from many of them, they could lead to dizziness or weakness. Consult your doctor if you're worried. You might need to provide a medical history, and they may also conduct a physical examination in order to diagnose the problem. They might also need to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
An ECG is a quick test that will allow your doctor to detect the signal of your heartbeat moving through your heart over a short duration. If you have PVCs, they will show in the test. Your doctor might also want to conduct a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat for longer durations of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other types of arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a handheld device which records your heart rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for the heart may be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For example a cardiologist could check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). This can help determine if you have a issue that could be responsible for your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also need to perform an analysis of your blood to determine the problem with electrolytes. For instance, you may have low potassium levels or a high level of calcium. This could be a sign that you have PVCs, or another problem such as anemia, or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred a specialist in electrophysiology, who can treat irregular heart rhythms. This specialist may need to conduct additional tests if you suffer from heart conditions that cause structural damage like an 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 a pacemaker to treat the condition that causes the PVCs.