Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are typically not dangerous and can disappear on their own.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vitals signs. They may also order a Holter Monitor which records the electrical impulses of your heart over a time of between 24 and 48 hours. They might also order blood tests to assess your thyroid and electrolyte levels. hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that reverberate through the SA node, a structure located in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the heartbeat to be delayed and causes an experience of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs may occur alone, or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive ones.
Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, while others experience palpitations. This can feel like a pounding heartbeat or a skipping heartbeat. Other signs include fatigue, dizziness, or feeling unwell.
Many people who suffer from occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a patient has frequent episodes, a physician might suggest a change in diet or lifestyle. For example, limiting caffeine, stress, and alcohol. They might prescribe medication such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will inquire about their medical history and perform an examination to assess their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture an image of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor that is worn for longer periods and records the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may require blood tests in some cases to look for imbalances in electrolytes or toxic effects of drugs.
Sometimes, a pvc doctor may refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm issues, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. The doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are malignant or benign.
PVCs are everywhere and are not usually harmful unless they are used regularly or for long periods of time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more prevalent in older people or those with heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. This is not a serious issue, but you should consult your physician if you notice symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
For many people, occasional PVCs might not cause symptoms or require no treatment. If the window doctor notice that your heart is racing or not making an entire beat, you need to see a doctor right away.
A cardiologist will begin by conducting an interview and then perform a an examination of your body, monitoring your heart using a stethoscope for any irregular beats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) done to record the electrical signals in your heart and identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found, you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or a portable ECG will be needed to record the irregular rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you have PVCs and the reason for them, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other factors.
You might be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine if your heart health is good and to look for structural problems which could lead to PVCs. You might also have a stress test to see how your heart reacts to exercise, as physical exercise can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also take blood tests to test your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to determine whether they're low. This could lead to PVCs.
If your doctor confirms that you have PVCs, and has ruled any serious illnesses out, the decision to treat them depends on how they impact your life and the frequency they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will recommend any medication to decrease their frequency or severity.
If you have frequent PVCs that can trigger palpitations or other symptoms such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your physician may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, such as avoiding caffeine, smoking and stress, can also decrease the frequency of these irregular pulses.
Prevention
A person might not experience any symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can be felt as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger the chest to feel full or swollen in the chest, and other times, they can make a person feel faint. These episodes happen because the heart is not functioning as efficiently as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased risk of developing dilated cardiac myopathy. This is a condition in which the heart expands and becomes unable to pump blood.
PVCs often are caused by changes in body chemistry. This includes the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, as well drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or weight gain and a lack of exercise, can trigger these episodes.
Some people find that changing their diet may help to reduce PVCs. They can, for instance, avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and disodium Inosinate, and diazole Sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to get enough magnesium.
It is important to get regular health checks, which include yearly physicals and lab tests. These can help diagnose any heart issues that could be the cause of your PVCs. You should also follow an appropriate diet and refrain from smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of 14 regular hospital wards found that healthcare staff were generally aware of preventive measures against infections caused by vascular catheters, however their self-assessment of compliance to these procedures was not high. Compliance improved after a feedback intervention however it was still very low on a few of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that training on how to implement preventive measures is required, and that those wards that are not complying should be targeted for infection surveillance. This information could be used to guide the implementation of additional quality improvement initiatives for these wards. It is likely that this will require more education and training for staff. It will also mean making sure that the correct materials are in place for the implementing of the preventive measures.
Symptoms
If you feel your heart is racing or fluttering, it could be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be harmless, but they could indicate that you have serious heart problems.
In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not any problem. They usually disappear by themselves. If you've got a lot of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. If you're concerned, talk to your doctor about them. You might need to provide your medical history and they may also conduct an examination of the body to diagnose the problem. They'll also probably want to conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A quick ECG test lets your doctor see the heartbeat signal going through your body over a a short period of time. The test will show whether you have PVCs. 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 which cause heart palpitations. You might also be wearing a device that can record your heart rhythm over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor.
Other tests for the heart may be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure or conduct an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). This can help determine if you have a issue that could be causing your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to run an analysis of your blood to determine what's wrong with your electrolytes such as low potassium or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign that you suffer from PVCs, or another health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You may be directed to an electrophysiologist, one of the specialists who specialize in treating irregular heart rhythms. If you have structural heart disease the specialist may have to do other tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will determine if your heart is damaged and how severe the damage is. In some cases, the specialist might suggest a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying issue creating your PVCs.