Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contracts (PVCs), are a form of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are usually not harmful and will be cured by themselves.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat, and check other vitals indicators. They may order an Holter Monitor which records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a span of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to determine your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.
Diagnosis
PVCs happen when electrical impulses from the lower chambers of the heart, or ventricles, misfire through a structure referred to as the SA node. This delay the next heartbeat which can cause a feeling of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can be seen as a single event, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the term ventricular tachycardia (VT).
While some people don't have any symptoms whatsoever Some experience palpitations, which can feel like an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. the glass doctor include fatigue, dizziness, or a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors may suggest a change to the way of life or diet, such as limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They can also prescribe medications, such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask about the medical history of the patient and conduct a physical exam to check their general health. They can also employ a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms for a longer period of time, or an electrocardiogram, which takes a snapshot at the electrical activity of the heart. In certain instances, doctors may order blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
A pvc doctor might refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. The doctor can confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are benign or malignant.
PVCs are everywhere and are not usually harmful unless they are used frequently or for long periods of time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common in older people, or those who have any form of heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. It's not an issue to worry about, but it is important to tell your doctor if you experience symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many, occasional PVCs might not cause symptoms or require no treatment. If you notice that your heart is racing or slurring an entire beat, you need to consult a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will start by conducting an interview and then perform a a physical exam, listening to your heart with a stethoscope for any irregular beats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done, which will record the electrical impulses in your heart and identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected then an all-day Holter monitor or a portable ECG will be needed to detect the irregular rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices will assist doctors determine if you have PVCs and the cause of them, such as an electrolyte imbalance, drug toxicities, or any other cause.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to determine if your heart is healthy and check for indications of structural issues which could cause PVCs. You might also be required to undergo a stress test in order to find out the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase the frequency of pvcs. You can also have blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to determine whether they're low. This could cause PVCs.
Once your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs and has eliminated any serious illnesses, the decision of whether or not to treat them will depend on how much they're impacting your life and the frequency at which they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will recommend any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.
If you have frequent PVCs that cause pulses or other symptoms, like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medication such as beta blockers and 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 occurrences of these irregular pulses.
Prevention
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations which can be described as "skipped beats" or flutters in your chest. These episodes can trigger a feeling of pressure or fullness or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as well as it should. PVCs are linked to an increased chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart gets larger and in a position to not pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry. This can be caused by the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. Lack of exercise can trigger these episodes, as can stress or excess weight.
Some people have found that a change in diet helps to reduce their PVCs. For instance, they could avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause disturbances in the heart rhythm, such as disodium guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627) and diazole sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.
It is important to get regular health checks, which include yearly physicals and lab tests. These tests can help diagnose any heart-related conditions that could cause your PVCs. Also, you should refrain from smoking and adhere to an appropriate diet program. This could increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 normal hospital wards revealed that they were aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat infections caused by vascular catheters, but that their self-assessed compliance with these practices was poor. Compliance improved following an intervention to improve feedback however it was still very low on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that training on the best ways to implement preventive measures is required, and that those areas that are not as well-adjusted should be targeted for surveillance of infection. This information can then be used to guide the implementation of further quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will likely require more education and training for personnel. It will also be important to ensure that the appropriate materials for implementing the preventive measures are in place.
Signs and symptoms
If you feel your heart is skipping beats or fluttering, it may be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they could be an indication of serious heart issues.
In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not an issue. They generally disappear on their own. If you have many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. If you're concerned about them, consult your doctor about the symptoms. They may need to determine the issue by taking an medical history and giving you an examination. They might also conduct an electrocardiogram or other tests.
A quick ECG test lets your doctor see the pulse of your heart moving through your body for a an extremely short time. The test will reveal if you have PVCs. Your doctor may also suggest the use of a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over a longer period of time. This can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias which cause heart palpitations. You could also be wearing a device that records your heart rate over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor.
Other tests for your heart 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 will determine whether you have an illness such as heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also be required to do an analysis of your blood to determine what is wrong in your electrolytes, for example, low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This can be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, including anxiety disorders and anemia.
You could be referred to an electrophysiologist who can treat irregular heart rhythms. If you have structural heart disease the doctor may need to conduct additional tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will tell you if you have damage to your heart and how severe it is. In certain cases doctors may suggest a pacemaker to treat the issue which is causing the PVCs.