Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not dangerous and can disappear on their own.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and also check other vitals signs. They may order an Holter Monitor, which records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a span of 24 to 48 hours. They may also request blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that reverberate through the SA node, which is a structure in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing the sensation of fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen as a single event, or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia is three or more consecutive ones.
While some people don't show any symptoms whatsoever Some experience palpitations, which can feel like the heart beating faster or slower. Other signs include fatigue, dizziness, or feeling unwell.
Many people who have occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If a patient has frequent episodes, a doctor may recommend a change to diet or lifestyle. For example restricting caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They may also prescribe medications like calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask about the medical history of the patient and do a physical exam to assess their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms for longer durations, or an electrocardiogram, which records a snapshot of the electrical activity within the heart. In certain instances doctors may require blood tests to look for an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
Sometimes, a pvc physician will refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm problems or an electrophysiologist to conduct a further examination. The doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are benign or malignant.
PVCs can be found everywhere and are not usually harmful when used frequently or for a long period of time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more prevalent in older people or those suffering from heart disease. This can happen to healthy individuals with normal, normal hearts. However, it's more prevalent among those who exercise regularly. This is not a serious issue, but you should inform your doctor if symptoms like fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful and do not cause symptoms in many people. They do not require treatment. But, for those who do feel your heart is lagging an beat or is racing, it's important to see a doctor as soon as you can.
A cardiologist will then interview you and then perform a physical examination and listen to your heart using a stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done that records the electrical impulses in your heart and identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been detected it is recommended to use an portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to record the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you have PVCs and the underlying cause for them, such as an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicity, or other factors.
An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, could be ordered to determine if your heart is healthy and check for indications of structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You might also have an exercise test to determine 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 find out if they are too low, which can contribute to the formation of PVCs.
After the window doctor has confirmed that you're suffering from PVCs and has ruled out any serious illness, the decision on whether to treat them will be based on how much they're impacting your life and how often they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will prescribe any medication to lessen their frequency or severity.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs that can trigger pulses or other symptoms, like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Altering your lifestyle to avoid triggers, such as smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can aid in reducing the frequency of times you experience these unusual pulses.
Prevention
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations which can feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in your chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger an increase in pressure or fullness in the chest, and at other times they can make a person feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart is not functioning as efficiently as it should. PVCs are associated with a higher chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart gets larger and unable to pump blood.
PVCs are usually 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 episodes and stress, as well as excessive weight.
Certain people find that changing their diet may help to reduce PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause disturbances in the heartbeat, for example disodium guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to take in more fruits and vegetables to ensure they are getting enough potassium and magnesium.
It is crucial to undergo regular health checks, which include annual physicals and laboratory tests. These can help diagnose any heart-related conditions that could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to an appropriate diet and avoid smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare professionals on 14 wards of a normal hospital revealed that they were aware of the preventive measures to avoid infections caused by vascular catheters However, their self-assessed compliance with these measures was low. After a feedback program that improved compliance on certain areas, but was still very low. This suggests that education is required on how to implement preventive measures and those wards that are less than compliant should be targeted for monitoring of infection. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will most likely require further education and training for staff. It will also be important to ensure that the appropriate tools for implementing the preventive measures are readily available.
Signs and symptoms
If you feel that your heart is skipping beats or fluttering, it may be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias could be harmless, or they could be a sign that you have serious heart problems.
In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't an issue and they usually go away by themselves. If you've got a lot of them, it could cause dizziness or weakening. Speak to your doctor if you are concerned. You might be required to provide your medical history and they may also conduct an examination of the body to determine the cause. They may also do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A short ECG test lets your doctor see the heartbeat signal moving through your body over the course of a brief period. If you have PVCs, they'll be visible on the test. Your doctor might 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 that cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a handheld device that tracks your heart's rhythm over 30 days.
Other tests for the heart may be needed, depending on the reason for your PVCs. For instance an cardiologist may test your blood pressure and do an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These can help find whether you suffer from a condition that may be responsible for your PVCs, such as cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor might also need to conduct a blood test to see what the problem is with your electrolytes for example, low potassium levels or high calcium levels. This could indicate that you suffer from PVCs or a different health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You could be referred to an electrophysiologist an expert who specializes in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal. This specialist may need to conduct additional tests if you are suffering from heart conditions that cause structural damage, such as the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will determine whether your heart has been damaged and the severity of the damage. In some instances, a specialist may recommend pacemakers to treat the issue that is causing the PVCs.