Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats aren't usually risky, and they may disappear on their own.
To diagnose PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital indicators. They may order a Holter monitor, a device that records your heart's electrical impulses over the course of 24 hours. They can also order blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses from the lower chambers of the heart ventricles misfire through a structure known as the SA node. This delays the next heartbeat which can cause a feeling of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can occur in isolation or in repeated patterns. Doublets are PVCs that occur in a series of. Ventricular tachycardia can be described as three or more consecutive ones.
window doctors don't experience any symptoms at all, others feel palpitations, which could feel like a pounding or skipping heartbeat. Other common symptoms are tiredness and dizziness, as well as a feeling of being unwell.
A lot of people who have occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors might suggest a change to lifestyle or diet including a reduction in caffeine, alcohol and stress. They may prescribe beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
Doctors will ask about the patient's medical history and do a physical exam to assess their general health. They may also employ an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor that is worn for longer periods and captures the heart's rhythms over time. In certain instances doctors may require blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
Sometimes, a pvc doctor will refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm problems or an electrophysiologist to conduct a further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs are common and don't usually cause any problems unless they occur frequently over a long period of time. This could lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common in older people or those suffering from some type of heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with normal heart function, but it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. This is not a serious issue, but you should consult your physician if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue occur.
Treatment
PVCs aren't harmful or cause any symptoms in the majority of people. They don't require treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or slurring an entire beat, you need to consult a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will interview you and then perform physical examinations and listen to your heart through an stethoscope to identify any irregular beats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed that records the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been detected it is recommended to use the use of a portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to document the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you have PVCs and the reason for them like an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other causes.
You may be required to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine if your heart health is in good shape and to check for structural issues that could cause PVCs. You may also undergo a stress test to see how your heart reacts to exercise, since physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also take blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium and other hormones to see whether they're insufficient. This can lead to PVCs.
Once your doctor has confirmed that you're suffering from PVCs and has eliminated any serious illnesses, the decision of how to treat them will depend on the degree to which they're affecting your life and how often they occur. If they occur only occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will prescribe any medication to lessen their frequency or severity.
If you experience frequent PVCs that do cause palpitations and other symptoms, such as feeling lightheaded or like you're about to faint, your doctor might suggest medication like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes like abstaining from smoking, caffeine and stress, can reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
A person may experience no symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may feel like "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. These episodes can cause an feeling of pressure or fullness, or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as effectively as it should. Frequent PVCs increase a person's risk of developing dilated Cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart gets larger and becomes ineffective at pump blood.
PVCs often are caused by changes in the body's chemistry. This includes the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, and drinking caffeine or alcohol. Stress or excess weight and the absence of exercise can trigger these episodes.
Some people find that changing their diet can help reduce the number of PVCs. They can, for instance, avoid foods that contain preservatives which can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium Guanylate, diazole, and disodium Inosinate sodium (E282-283). You can also eat more vegetables and fruits to ensure that they get enough potassium and magnesium.
Regular health checks are crucial as are annual physicals. They can aid in identifying any heart issues that could be causing your PVCs. Also, you should refrain from smoking and adhere to a healthy diet program. This can increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of 14 typical hospital wards revealed that healthcare staff were generally aware of preventive measures for the infection caused by vascular catheters, but their self-assessed conformity to these procedures was not high. The compliance improved following an intervention to improve feedback, but was still low on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that education is required on how to implement preventive measures and those wards that are less compliant need to be targeted for infection monitoring. 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 involve making sure that the right tools are available for implementation of preventive measures.
Signs and symptoms
If you feel that your heart is racing or fluttering, it may be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias could be normal, or they could indicate that you have serious heart problems.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They generally disappear on their own. If you have many of them, it could cause dizziness or weakening. Talk to your doctor if you are worried. They might need to diagnose the problem by taking an history of your medical condition and conducting an examination. They might also conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
An ECG is a simple test that allows your health care provider observe the signal generated by your heartbeat as it moves through your heart for an extremely short period of period of time. If you have PVCs, they will show on the test. Your doctor may also recommend a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over a longer amount of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a handheld device which tracks your heart's rhythm over 30 days.
Other heart tests might be required, depending on the reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist may check your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can tell whether you have an issue like heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also be required to conduct an analysis of your blood to determine what is wrong in your electrolytes, like low potassium or high calcium levels. This could be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, including anemia and anxiety disorders.
You may be referred a specialist in electrophysiology, who treats abnormal heart rhythms. If you suffer from heart disease that is structural the doctor may need to conduct additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will tell you whether you've suffered damage to your heart and how serious it is. In some instances, the doctor may suggest an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is creating your PVCs.