Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs), are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats aren't usually hazardous, and they could disappear on their own.
To determine PVC doctors listen to your heartbeat and check other vital signs. They may order a Holter Monitor that records the electrical impulses of your heart over a period of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that misfire through the SA node, a structure 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 referred to as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the term ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Some people have no symptoms, while others experience heart palpitations. This can feel like an unsteady heartbeat or a skipping heartbeat. Other symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, or feeling unwell.
Many people with occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors may suggest a change in the way of life or diet including a reduction in caffeine, alcohol and stress. They may prescribe beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and do a physical exam to check their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor which is worn for longer durations and records 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.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor may refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm issues, 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 everywhere and aren't usually harmful unless they are used regularly or for a long time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiac myopathy. It is more common in people who are older or those with some form 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. It is not a major problem, but it is important to inform your doctor if symptoms like fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
For many people, occasional PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or skipping an entire beat, you need to seek out a physician immediately.
A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and doing physical examination, and monitoring your heart using an stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical signals of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found then a 24-hour Holter monitor or another portable ECG is required to detect the abnormal rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the reason for them like an imbalance in electrolytes, toxic drugs or other causes.
An echocardiogram, an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to determine whether your heart is in good health and look for any indications of structural issues which could cause PVCs. You could also be asked to take stress tests to assess the response of your heart to exercise. Physical activity can increase the frequency of PVCs. You can also have blood tests to determine your thyroid, magnesium, and potassium hormone levels to find out whether they are insufficient, which can contribute to the development of PVCs.
Once your doctor has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled out any serious illness, the decision of how to treat them will be contingent on how much they're impacting your life and how often they occur. If they occur only occasionally and do not 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 trigger the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, like lightheadedness or feeling like you're about to faint, your doctor might suggest medication, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changes in lifestyle, like cutting down on smoking, caffeine and stress, can also decrease the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
The following is a list with preventions.
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations that can be described as "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. These episodes can cause an feeling of pressure or fullness, or they can make you feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as effectively as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart expands and becomes in a position to not pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in the body's chemistry. This can be caused by the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. Inactivity can trigger these episodes like stress or excess weight.
Certain people find that changing their diet can help reduce PVCs. They can, for example, avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which can cause a disturbance of the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, diazole, and disodium Inosinate Sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to get enough magnesium.
It is important to get regular health checks, including yearly physicals and lab tests. These tests can help identify any underlying heart conditions that could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to an appropriate diet and avoid smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 normal hospital wards found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures to avoid vascular catheter-related infections however, their self-assessment of compliance with these guidelines was low. Compliance improved after a feedback intervention however it was still very lower on some of the observed wards. This suggests that training is required on how to implement preventive measures, and those wards that are less than compliant should be targeted for monitoring of infection. This information can be used to help in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will most likely require more education and training for personnel. It will also be necessary to ensure that the appropriate materials for implementing the preventive measures are available.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heart to skip beats or flutter. These arrhythmias may be normal, or they could indicate you have serious heart problems.
In window doctors near me , PVCs that occur occasionally are not an issue. They generally disappear by themselves. If you have many of them, it can cause dizziness or weakening. If you're worried, talk to your doctor about the symptoms. You might need to provide your medical history and they might also perform an examination of the body to diagnose the problem. They might also perform an electrocardiogram or other tests.
A short ECG test will allow your doctor to observe the heartbeat signal going through your body over a the course of a brief period. The test will show if you have PVCs. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat for a longer period of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You might also wear a portable device that records your heart rate over 30 days, called an event monitor.
Other heart tests might be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure or conduct an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can reveal the presence of a medical condition that is responsible for your PVCs like cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor might also need to conduct a blood test to see what the problem is with your electrolytes, such as low potassium or high levels of calcium. This can be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, like anxiety disorders and anemia.
You could be referred to an electrophysiologist who treats abnormal heart rhythms. If you suffer from heart disease that is structural, this specialist might need to do other tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether your heart has been damaged and how severe the damage is. In some instances, the doctor may recommend a pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is the cause of your PVCs.