Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs), are a form of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats aren't usually hazardous, and they could go away on their own.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and also check other vitals indicators. They may order an Holter monitor which records your heart's electrical impulses over 24-48 hours. They can also request blood tests for checking your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs occur when electrical impulses coming from the heart's lower chambers, or ventricles, misfire through a structure known as the SA node. This causes the heartbeat to be delayed, causing the feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can be seen in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia can be described as three or more consecutive ones.
Some people have no symptoms, but others experience palpitations. It can be felt as the sound of a beating heart or a slurred heartbeat. Other common symptoms are tiredness, dizziness or a sensation of being sick.
the window doctor with occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors might recommend a change in diet or lifestyle like limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They may also prescribe medications like calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers which can lower the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and conduct an examination of the body to determine their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms over longer periods of time, or an electrocardiogram, which captures a picture of the electrical activity of the heart. In certain instances doctors may request blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer someone 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 if they are benign or malignant.
PVCs are quite frequent and usually don't cause any problems except when they are frequent over a long period of time. This could 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 suffering from some form of heart disease. This can happen to healthy individuals with normal, normal hearts. However, it is more prevalent among those who regularly exercise. Usually, this isn't a serious concern however it is crucial to consult your doctor if you experience symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful and do not cause symptoms in many people. They do not require treatment. But when you do feel their heart has skipped an beat or is racing, it's crucial to consult a physician immediately.
A cardiologist will begin by interviewing you and performing a an examination of your body, listening to your heart with a stethoscope for any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical signals of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found it is recommended to have an all-day Holter monitor or a portable ECG will be needed to capture the abnormal rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices will assist doctors determine if you have PVCs and the underlying cause for them, like an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicities, or any other cause.
You may be required to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine if your heart health is in good order and to look for structural problems that could lead to PVCs. You might also have a stress test to see how your heart reacts to exercise, since physical activity can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also have blood tests to determine your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to determine whether they are low, which can contribute to the formation of PVCs.
If your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs, and has ruled any serious illnesses out, the treatment you choose to take depends on how they impact your life and how frequently they occur. If they happen only infrequently and do not cause symptoms then your doctor is unlikely to recommend any treatment that will reduce their frequency or severity.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs, which can cause palpitations or other symptoms such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your physician may prescribe medication such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Altering your lifestyle to stay clear of triggers, such as smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress, can also help lower the number of occurrences of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, that can feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in your chest. These episodes can trigger an feeling of pressure or fullness, or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as well as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased risk of developing dilated cardiac myopathy. This is a condition where the heart expands and becomes unable to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical. This includes the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. Lack of exercise can trigger these episodes, as can stress or excess weight.
Certain people find that changing their diet can help reduce PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium Guanylate, diazole, and disodium inosinate Sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to get enough magnesium.
It is important to get regular health checks, including annual physicals and lab tests. These tests can help diagnose any heart-related conditions that could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to a healthy eating plan and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare professionals on 14 wards of a normal hospital found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures for infections caused by vascular catheters However, their self-assessed compliance with these guidelines was poor. After a feedback program the compliance level improved on a few wards but was still low. This suggests that training on how to implement preventive measures is necessary, and that those wards which are less compliant should be targeted for infection surveillance. This information can be used to guide the implementation of further quality improvement initiatives on these wards. This will likely require more education and training for staff. It will also be important to ensure that the appropriate tools for implementing the preventive measures are readily available.
Symptoms
Involuntary ventricular contractions that are premature can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or to flutter. These arrhythmias could be harmless, but they could be a sign that you have serious heart problems.
In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not an issue. They typically disappear by themselves. But if you have many of them, they could cause weakness or dizziness. If you're worried you might be experiencing dizziness or weakness, talk to your doctor about the symptoms. You might be required to provide your medical history and they might also perform an examination to diagnose the problem. They might also conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
An ECG is a simple test that allows your health care provider detect the signal of your heartbeat as it moves through your heart over the course of a brief time. The test will show whether you have PVCs. Your doctor may also suggest the use of a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over a longer amount of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You may also carry a device that records your heart rhythm over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor.
Other heart tests might be required, depending on the reason for your PVCs. For example a cardiologist could check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests will determine whether you are suffering from an issue such as heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also have to conduct a blood test to see what the problem is in your electrolytes, such as low potassium or high calcium levels. This could be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, including anxiety disorders and anemia.
You may be referred an electrophysiologist who treats abnormal heart rhythms. If you suffer from structural heart disease, this specialist might need to do other tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can tell whether you've suffered damage to your heart, and how serious it is. In some cases doctors may suggest pacemakers to treat the issue that is causing the PVCs.