Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not risky, and they may disappear by themselves.
To determine PVC doctors listen to your heartbeat and check other vital indicators. They may order a Holter Monitor that captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a span of 24 to 48 hours. They might also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, which is a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing a feeling like fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs can occur in one pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, while others experience heart palpitations. It can be felt as the sound of a beating heart or a skipping heartbeat. Other symptoms that are common are fatigue, dizziness or a sensation of being sick.
Many people who suffer from occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors could recommend a change in the way of life or diet, such as limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They may prescribe medication such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will inquire about their medical history and perform an examination of the body to check on their general health. They can also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor which is worn for longer time periods and monitors the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may order blood tests in certain cases to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or toxic effects of drugs.
A pvc physician may refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for 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 frequently or for a long time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more prevalent in older adults or those suffering from heart disease. It can also occur to healthy individuals with normal, normal hearts. However, it is more common in those who exercise regularly. It's not an issue that is serious however it is crucial to consult your doctor if you experience symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many, occasional PVCs might not cause symptoms or need no treatment. However those who feel your heart is lagging a beat or is racing, it's important to see a doctor as soon as possible.
A cardiologist will first interview you and perform an examination of your body and listen to your heart with an stethoscope to identify any irregular heartbeats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed that records the electrical impulses in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified, you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or another portable ECG will be required to record the irregular rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you have PVCs, and their cause which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other factors.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, could be ordered to determine whether your heart is healthy and check for indications of structural issues that can lead to PVCs. You could also have a stress test to check how your heart reacts to exercise, since physical exercise can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You may also undergo blood tests to determine your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to find out if they are too low which could contribute to the development of PVCs.
After your doctor confirms that you have PVCs, and has ruled any serious illness out, the treatment you choose to take will depend on how they affect your life and the frequency they occur. If they happen only infrequently and do not cause symptoms the doctor is not likely to recommend any treatment to decrease their frequency or severity.
If you experience frequent PVCs that trigger heart palpitations, as well as other symptoms such as feeling lightheaded or like you're going to faint, your doctor might recommend medications like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, like smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can aid in reducing the frequency of times you experience these unusual pulses.
The following is a list with preventions.
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations which may be described as "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. These episodes can cause an feeling of pressure or fullness, or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. PVCs are associated with a higher risk of developing dilated cardiac myopathy. This is a condition where the heart gets larger and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in the body's chemistry. These include the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or excess weight and a lack of exercise, can trigger these episodes.
Certain people find that a change in their diet can reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods that contain preservatives which could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium Guanylate, diazole, and disodium Inosinate sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get enough magnesium.
It is important to get regular health check-ups, which include annual physicals and lab tests. These tests can help you identify any heart issues that could cause your PVCs. It is also recommended to not smoke and adhere to an appropriate diet program. This can increase your frequency of episodes.
A survey of healthcare professionals on 14 wards of a normal hospital found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures to avoid infections caused by vascular catheters, but that their self-assessed compliance with these practices was poor. After a feedback intervention that improved compliance on certain wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that training is required on how to implement preventive measures, and those wards that are less than compliant should be targeted for infection monitoring. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely involve more training and education for personnel. www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk will also be necessary to ensure that the correct materials for implementing the preventive measures are readily available.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heart to skip beats or flutter. These arrhythmias aren't necessarily dangerous or they could be a sign of serious heart issues.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They usually disappear on their own. But if you have a lot of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. Consult your doctor if you're worried. You might need to provide a medical history, and they might also perform a physical examination in order to diagnose the problem. They'll also probably want to do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A quick ECG test lets your doctor see the pulse of your heart moving through your body over a short period of time. If you have PVCs, they will show in the test. Your doctor may also suggest to perform an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor that records your heartbeat for longer periods of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, which is a portable device which keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.
Other heart tests might be required, depending on the reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can reveal the presence of a medical condition that is the cause of your PVCs or heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also be required to perform an analysis of your blood to determine the issue with your electrolytes. For example, low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, including anxiety disorders and anemia.
You could be referred to an electrophysiologist one of the specialists who specialize in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal. If you suffer from heart disease that is structural the specialist may have to do other tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether your heart has been damaged and the severity of the damage. In some cases, a specialist may recommend an implanted pacemaker to treat the issue that causes the PVCs.