Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are typically not harmful and will be cured by themselves.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat and also check other vitals signs. They might recommend a Holter monitor which records the electrical impulses your heart produces over 24-48 hours. They may also request blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses from the lower chambers of the heart, or ventricles, misfire through a structure referred to as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to an experience similar to racing or skipped beats. PVCs can occur in isolation or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets, while three or more consecutive PVCs constitute ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people don't experience any symptoms whatsoever Others experience heart palpitations which can feel like an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other symptoms are dizziness, fatigue or a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who have occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a physician may recommend a change to the diet or lifestyle. For instance the restriction of caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They can prescribe medications such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and perform a physical examination to check their general health. They can also employ a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms for longer durations or an electrocardiogram which captures a picture of the electrical activity of the heart. Doctors may request blood tests in some instances to check for electrolyte imbalances or drug toxicity.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor may refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm issues or an electrophysiologist to conduct a further examination. The doctor will confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs are all over the place and are generally not harmful when used frequently or for long periods of time. This could lead to a weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more common in people who are older, or those who have some form of heart disease. This can happen to healthy people who have normal, normal heart. However, it is more common in those who exercise regularly. It's not a serious problem, but it is important to inform your doctor if symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
For many people, occasional PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or are harmless and need no treatment. However those who feel your heart is lagging the beat or is racing, it's crucial to speak to a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will start by conducting an interview and then perform a a physical exam, listening to your heart with the stethoscope to look for irregular heartbeats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done to record the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is discovered then a portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to capture the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices will assist doctors determine if you have PVCs and the cause of them, such as an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity, or other factors.
You may be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is good and to look for structural issues which could lead to PVCs. You may also undergo a stress test to check how your heart responds to physical activity can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also have blood tests to check your thyroid, potassium, and magnesium hormone levels to determine whether they are insufficient, which can contribute to the development of PVCs.
After your doctor has confirmed that you're suffering from PVCs and has ruled out any serious illness and has made a decision about whether to treat them will be based on the extent to which they impact your life and the frequency at which they occur. If they occur only occasionally and do not cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any treatment that will reduce their frequency or severity.
If you have frequent PVCs that can trigger palpitations or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes like cutting down on smoking, caffeine and stress, can also decrease the frequency of these irregular pulses.
Prevention
There are people who do not experience symptoms at all from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may appear 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 someone feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. Frequent PVCs increase a person's risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. a condition wherein the heart gets larger and becomes ineffective at pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry. This is due to the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or excess weight, as well as an insufficient amount of exercise can trigger these episodes.
Some people find that changing their diet can reduce PVCs. They can, for example avoid foods that contain preservatives that could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and diazole, and disodium inosinate Sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to ensure that you get enough magnesium.
Regular health checks are important, including yearly physicals. These can help diagnose any underlying heart conditions that could be causing your PVCs. Also, you should avoid smoking and follow the healthy eating plan. This can increase your frequency of episodes.
A survey of 14 typical hospital wards found that healthcare workers were generally aware of preventive measures to avoid infections caused by vascular catheters, however their self-assessment of compliance to these guidelines was low. After a feedback intervention the compliance level improved on a few wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that training is required to implement preventive measures and those wards that are less conforming should be targeted for infection monitoring. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This could involve additional education and training for personnel. It will also require making sure that the right materials are available for the implementation of preventive measures.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or to flutter. These arrhythmias could be harmless, but they could indicate that you are suffering from serious heart issues.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They usually disappear by themselves. If you have many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. Consult your doctor if you are concerned. You might be required to provide your medical history and they might also perform an examination of the body to determine the cause. They may also want to perform an electrocardiogram or other tests.
A short ECG test allows your doctor to see the signal of your heartbeat moving through your body over an extremely short time. The test will reveal whether you have PVCs. Your doctor might also want to conduct a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat for longer durations of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias which cause heart palpitations. You may 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 the heart may be required, based on the reason for your PVCs. For example a cardiologist could check your blood pressure, and also perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests can determine if you suffer from a condition like heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor might also need to run an analysis of your blood to determine what is wrong in your electrolytes, such as low potassium or high calcium levels. double glazing doctors could indicate that you have PVCs or another problem such as anemia, or anxiety disorders.
You could be referred to an electrophysiologist who can treat irregular heart rhythms. This specialist may need to conduct additional tests if you suffer from heart problems that are structural, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will determine whether your heart has been damaged and the severity of the damage. In certain cases, a specialist may recommend pacemakers to treat the issue that causes the PVCs.
