Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), are a type of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are usually not dangerous, and they can disappear on their own.
To determine PVC Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital indicators. They might order a Holter Monitor which captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a span of 24 to 48 hours. They can also order blood tests for checking your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that reverberate through the SA node, a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This delay the next heartbeat and causes a feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can be seen in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the condition known as ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, whereas others experience heart palpitations. This can feel like an unsteady heartbeat or a slurred heartbeat. Other symptoms are dizziness, fatigue or a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who have occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a patient is experiencing frequent episodes, a doctor may recommend a change to the diet or lifestyle. For example restricting caffeine, stress, and alcohol. They can prescribe medication such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
Doctors will inquire about the medical history of the patient and perform a physical examination to assess their general health. They can also employ a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms over a longer period of time or an electrocardiogram which captures a picture of the electrical activity of the heart. Doctors may order blood tests in some cases to look for imbalances in electrolytes or drug toxicity.
Sometimes, 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 a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are benign or malignant.
PVCs can be found everywhere and aren't usually harmful unless they are used frequently or for a long 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 people or those with heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with normal heart function, but it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. It's not a serious issue, but you should inform your doctor if symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
For many, occasional PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or require no treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or skipping the beat, it's best to seek out a physician immediately.
A cardiologist will first interview you and conduct an examination of your body by listening to your heart with a stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done that records the electrical impulses in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been identified it is recommended to use an portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor is required to record the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you have PVCs and their causes like an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other factors.
An echocardiogram, an ultrasound of your heart, could be ordered to assess whether your heart is healthy and look for any indications of structural issues which could cause PVCs. You could also have a stress test to see how your heart reacts to 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 could contribute to the formation of PVCs.
If your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs, and has ruled any serious diseases out, the decision to treat them depends on how they impact your life and how frequently they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any treatment to 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 going to faint, your physician might suggest medication like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, such as cutting down on smoking, caffeine and stress, can also decrease the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
The following is a list of preventions.
A person might not experience any symptoms at all from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can be felt as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause an increase in pressure or fullness in the chest, and at other occasions, they may make someone feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as well as it should. The frequent PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart enlarges and is not able to pump blood.
PVCs often are caused by changes in the body's chemistry. This can be caused by the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. Inactivity can trigger these symptoms, as can stress or excess weight.
Some people can find that a change in their diet helps 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, disodium Inosinate, and diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.
It is important to get regular health checks, including annual physicals and laboratory tests. window doctor can aid in identifying any underlying heart conditions which could be causing your PVCs. You should also not smoke and adhere to a healthy diet program. This can increase your frequency of episodes.
A survey of 14 normal hospital wards showed that healthcare personnel were generally aware of preventive measures for vascular catheter-associated infection, but their self-assessment of conformity to these guidelines was low. Compliance improved following an intervention to improve feedback, but was still low on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that training on how to implement preventive measures is necessary and that the wards which are less compliant should be targeted for surveillance of infection. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely involve further education and training for staff. It will also be necessary to ensure that the appropriate tools to implement the preventive measures are in place.
Symptoms
If you feel like your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it may be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they may be the sign of heart problems.
In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't a problem, and they usually disappear by themselves. But if you have a lot of them, they can lead to dizziness or weakness. Speak to your doctor if worried. They may have to identify the issue by taking an history of your medical condition and giving you an examination. They'll likely also need to do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
An ECG is a simple test that lets your health care provider detect the signal of your heartbeat as it travels through your heart in an extremely short period of period of time. If you have PVCs, they'll be visible on the test. Your doctor might also want to do an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat for longer durations of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You could also be wearing a device that records your heart rate over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor.
Other tests for your heart might be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist can check your blood pressure, or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can tell whether you are suffering from an issue like heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also be required to run tests on your blood to identify the issue with your electrolytes. For instance, you may have low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This can be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that may cause them, including anxiety disorders and anemia.
You might be referred to an electrophysiologist, a specialist who specializes in treating irregular heart rhythms. If you suffer from heart disease that is structural the specialist may have to perform additional tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will help determine whether your heart has been damaged and how severe the damage is. In certain cases an expert may recommend an implanted pacemaker to treat the issue that is causing the PVCs.