Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats aren't usually hazardous, and they could go away on their own.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and check other vital signs. They might order a Holter monitor which is a device that records your heart's electrical impulses over 24-48 hours. They may also request blood tests to assess your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, which is a structure in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the heartbeat to be delayed which can cause a feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can be seen as a single event, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the term ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
While some people don't show any symptoms, others feel palpitations, that can be felt as the heart beating faster or slower. Other symptoms that are common are fatigue and dizziness, as well as a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who suffer from occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors may suggest a change in lifestyle or diet including a reduction in alcohol, caffeine and stress. They might prescribe medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and conduct an examination of the body to assess their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms for a longer period of time, or an electrocardiogram, which captures a picture of the electrical activity within the heart. Doctors may require blood tests in certain cases to look for imbalances in electrolytes or toxic effects of drugs.
A pvc doctor might refer a patient to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. The doctor will confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not.
PVCs are everywhere and are generally not harmful unless they are used frequently or for long periods of time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiac myopathy. This is more prevalent in older adults or people suffering from heart disease. It can also happen to healthy people who have normal, normal heart. However, it is more prevalent among those who exercise regularly. It is not a major issue, but you should tell your doctor if symptoms like fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
For many, occasional PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or not making a beat, it's best to see a doctor right away.
A cardiologist will interview you and perform physical examinations and listen to your heart using an stethoscope to identify any irregular heartbeats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done, which will record the electrical impulses in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified it is recommended to have a 24-hour Holter monitor or other portable ECG will be needed to detect the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you have PVCs and the reason for them which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other causes.
You may be requested to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine whether your heart health is in good order and to look for structural problems which could lead to PVCs. You may also undergo a stress test to see how your heart responds to exercise, since physical activity can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also have blood tests to determine your thyroid, magnesium, and potassium hormone levels to determine whether they are insufficient and can cause the formation of PVCs.
After your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs and has eliminated any serious diseases and has made a decision about whether or not to treat them will depend on the extent to which 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 reduce the frequency or severity of them.
If you have frequent PVCs that cause heart palpitations, or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medication such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, like cutting down on smoking, caffeine and stress, can reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
The following is a list of preventions.
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, that can feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. These episodes can trigger feelings of pressure or fullness or they can make you feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart is not functioning as efficiently as it should. PVCs are associated with a higher risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart gets larger and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry. This includes the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or weight gain, as well as the absence of exercise can trigger these symptoms.
Some people have found that a change in diet helps to reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can, avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and diazole, and disodium Inosinate Sodium (E282-283). You can also consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure they're getting enough magnesium and potassium.
It is crucial to undergo regular health check-ups, which include yearly physicals and lab tests. These tests can help identify any heart issues that could cause your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to an eat-healthy diet and refrain from smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare workers on 14 wards of a normal hospital showed that they were generally aware of the preventive measures for vascular catheter-associated infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these practices was not great. Compliance improved after a feedback intervention, but was still lower on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that training on how to implement the preventive measures is essential and that the wards which are less compliant should be targeted for infection surveillance. This information could be used to guide the implementation of additional quality improvement initiatives on these wards. This will most likely require additional education and training of personnel. It will also mean making sure that the correct tools are available for implementation of preventive measures.
Symptoms
If you feel your heart is racing or fluttering, it may be due to premature ventricular contractions. 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 generally disappear on their own. If you have many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakening. Talk to your doctor if you're worried. You might be required to provide an medical history, and they may also conduct an examination of the body to diagnose the problem. They may also conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
An ECG is a simple test that will allow your doctor to detect the signal of your heartbeat as it travels through your heart over an extremely short period of time. The test will reveal if you have PVCs. Your doctor may also suggest a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat for a longer period of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, a portable device which tracks your heart's rhythm over 30 days.
Other tests for the heart may be required, depending on the reason for your PVCs. For instance, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). This can help determine whether you suffer from a condition that is the cause of your PVCs or heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to perform an analysis of your blood to determine the problem with electrolytes. For instance, a low level of potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, including anemia and anxiety disorders.
You could be referred to a specialist in electrophysiology, who treats abnormal heart rhythms. If the window doctor have heart disease that is structural, this specialist might 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 certain cases, a specialist may recommend a pacemaker to treat the issue which is causing the PVCs.