Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats usually aren't risky, and they may disappear by themselves.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vitals signs. They might order an Holter monitor which is a device that records the electrical impulses your heart produces over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs occur when electrical impulses coming from the heart's lower chambers ventricles misfire through a structure known as the SA node. This delays the next heartbeat, causing the feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can occur in isolation, or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive ones.
Some people do not experience any symptoms, but others experience palpitations. It could be an unsteady heartbeat or a slurred heartbeat. Other signs include dizziness, fatigue, or a feeling that you're unwell.
A lot of people who have occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a patient has frequent episodes, a physician might recommend a change in the diet or lifestyle. For instance the restriction of caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They may prescribe beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and conduct a physical examination to check on their general health. They may also employ an electrocardiogram (ECG) to get an image of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor that is worn for longer durations and captures the heart's rhythms over time. In certain instances, doctors may order blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
A pvc doctor might refer a patient to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs are all over the place and aren't usually harmful unless they are used regularly or for a long period of time. This can cause weakening of the heart muscle or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more common in older people or people suffering from heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with normal heart function, but this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. Most of the time, this isn't an issue to worry about but it's important to consult your doctor if you experience symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many people, occasional PVCs might not cause symptoms or require no treatment. If you notice that your heart is racing or slurring a beat, it's best to seek out a physician immediately.
A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and performing a a physical exam, monitoring your heart using an stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. You'll also undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical signals of your heart to detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found it is recommended to have a 24-hour Holter monitor or other portable ECG will be required to record the irregular rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and their causes which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other causes.
An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to determine whether your heart is in good health and look for any indications of structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You may also undergo a stress test to see how your heart reacts to physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also have blood tests to assess your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to find out whether they are low which could contribute to the formation of PVCs.
If your doctor confirms that you have PVCs and has ruled any serious illnesses out, the decision to treat them is based on the impact they have on your life and how frequently they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any treatment that can reduce their frequency or severity.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs that cause palpitations or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medication such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Altering your lifestyle to avoid triggers, like caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can also help lower the number of occurrences of these unusual pulses.
Prevention
A person may experience no symptoms at all from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that can be felt as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause a fullness or pressure in the chest, and at other times, they can make someone feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart isn't pumping as effectively as normal. PVCs are associated with a higher risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical. They can be caused by the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or weight gain or the absence of exercise can trigger these episodes.
Some people find that changing their diet can help reduce the number of PVCs. For instance, they could avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause a disturbance in the heartbeat, for example disodium Guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627) and diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to ensure that you get enough magnesium.
It is crucial to undergo regular health check-ups, which include annual physicals and laboratory tests. These can help diagnose any heart issues that could be causing your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to an eat-healthy diet and refrain from smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 normal hospital wards revealed that they were aware of the preventive measures for vascular catheter-related infections However, their self-assessed compliance with these guidelines was low. After a feedback intervention the compliance level improved on a few wards but was still low. This suggests that training on the best ways to implement preventive measures is essential and that the wards that are not complying should be targeted for surveillance of infection. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. It is likely that this will require additional education and training of staff. It will also be necessary to ensure that the right materials for implementing the preventive measures are readily available.
Signs and symptoms
If you feel your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it may be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be normal, or they could indicate that you have serious heart problems.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not any problem. They usually disappear on their own. If you're suffering from many of them, they can lead to dizziness or weakness. If you're worried, talk to your doctor about the symptoms. They may have to identify the problem by taking an medical history and giving you an examination. They'll likely also need to do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
An ECG is a quick test that lets your health care provider see the signal from your heartbeat moving through your heart in a short period of time. window doctor near me will reveal if you have PVCs. Your doctor may also recommend a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat for a longer period of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You might also carry a device that records your heart's rhythm over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor.
Other tests for the heart may be required, based on the reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure or conduct an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These can help find the presence of a medical condition that is responsible for your PVCs or heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to run an analysis of your blood to determine the issue with electrolytes. For example, low potassium levels or a high level of calcium. This could be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that may cause them, such as anxiety disorders and anemia.
You may be referred a specialist in electrophysiology, who can treat irregular heart rhythms. If you suffer from heart disease that is structural the doctor may need to conduct additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will help determine whether your heart is damaged and how severe the damage is. In certain cases, a doctor might recommend an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is causing your PVCs.