Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are typically not harmful and will be cured by themselves.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat, and check other vitals signs. They may also order a Holter Monitor which records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They can also request blood tests to check your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that misfire through the SA node, which is a structure in the lower chambers of the heart. This delay the next heartbeat and causes an experience of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can occur in isolation or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Some people do not experience any symptoms, while others experience heart palpitations. It can be felt as an unsteady heartbeat or a skipping heartbeat. Other symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, or feeling unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors could suggest a change to diet or lifestyle like limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They can prescribe beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and perform an examination of the body to determine their general health. They can also employ a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms over a longer period of time, or an electrocardiogram, which captures a picture of the electrical activity in the heart. In certain instances, doctors may order blood tests to look for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
A pvc doctor may refer the patient to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs are all over the place and aren't usually harmful unless they are used regularly or for 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 more common in older adults or people suffering from heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. It's not a serious problem, but it is important to consult your physician if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue occur.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful and do not cause any symptoms in the majority of people. They do not require treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or not making a beat, it's best to see a doctor right away.
A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and performing a an examination of your body, listening to your heart with an stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed, which will record the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified then the use of a portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor is required to record the abnormal rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs, and their cause, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other factors.
You may be required to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is good and to look for structural issues that could cause 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 have blood tests to check your thyroid, magnesium, and potassium hormone levels to determine if they are too low, which can contribute to the development of PVCs.
Once your doctor has confirmed that you're suffering from PVCs and has ruled out any serious diseases and has made a decision about whether to treat them will be based on the degree to which they're affecting your life and the frequency at which they occur. If they only occur occasionally and do not cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to prescribe any medication that can reduce their frequency or severity.
If, however, you suffer from frequent PVCs that do cause the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, such as light-headedness or feeling like you're about to faint, your doctor may suggest medications like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changing your lifestyle to avoid triggers, like smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can also help lower the number of times you experience these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
A person might not experience any symptoms at all from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may appear as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. These episodes can cause an feeling of pressure or fullness, or make you feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart isn't functioning as efficiently as it should. Frequent PVCs increase a person's risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. a condition where the heart gets larger and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical. This includes the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, in addition to drinking alcohol or caffeine. A lack of exercise can also trigger these episodes, as can stress or excessive weight.
Some people have found that a change in diet helps reduce their PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods with preservatives, which can cause a disturbance in 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 sufficient magnesium.
It is essential to have regular health checks, which include yearly physicals and lab tests. These tests can help identify any heart issues that could be the cause of your PVCs. Also, you should refrain from smoking and adhere to a healthy diet program. This could increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of 14 regular hospital wards revealed that healthcare workers were generally aware of preventive measures to avoid infections caused by vascular catheters, however their self-assessment of conformity to these guidelines was low. After a feedback intervention that improved compliance on certain wards but was still low. This suggests that education is needed on how to implement preventive measures and those wards that are less conforming should be targeted for monitoring of infection. This information could be used to help in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will most likely require further education and training for personnel. It will also require making sure that the correct materials are available for the implementation of preventive measures.
Signs and symptoms
If you feel that your heart is skipping beats or fluttering, it could be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless, or they could be a sign that you have serious heart problems.
In healthy individuals, occasional PVCs aren't a problem, and they usually disappear by themselves. But if window doctor have many of them, they may lead to dizziness or weakness. If you're concerned about them, consult your doctor about them. They may need to determine the issue by taking an medical history and conducting a physical exam. They may also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A quick ECG test will allow your doctor to observe the heartbeat signal going through your body over a an extremely short time. If you have PVCs, they'll be visible in the test. Your doctor might also suggest a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat for a longer period of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You could also be wearing a device that can record your heart's rhythm over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor.
Other tests for the heart may be required, based on the reason behind your PVCs. A cardiologist can check your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can reveal if you have a condition that is the cause of your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to run a blood test to determine the problem with electrolytes. For instance, a low level of potassium levels or a high level of calcium. This can be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, like anxiety disorders and anemia.
You may be referred a specialist in electrophysiology, who treats abnormal heart rhythms. If you have structural heart disease the specialist may have to do other tests, such as an MRI or CT 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 might recommend an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying issue creating your PVCs.