Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contracts (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are generally not dangerous and can go away by themselves.
To diagnose PVC Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and check other vital signs. They may also order a Holter Monitor, which captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a span of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also request blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses coming from the lower chambers of the heart, or ventricles, misfire through a structure referred to as the SA node. This delays the next heartbeat which can cause an experience of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs may occur alone or in repeated patterns. window doctor are known as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people have no symptoms, whereas others experience palpitations. It can be felt as a pounding heartbeat or a skipping heartbeat. Other common symptoms are tiredness or dizziness, or a feeling of being sick.
Many people with occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a doctor might recommend a change in the diet or lifestyle. For instance, limiting caffeine, stress, and alcohol. They might prescribe beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will ask about the patient's medical history and perform a physical examination to check their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms for longer durations or an electrocardiogram which records a snapshot 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 will refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm problems, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. The doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are benign or malignant.
PVCs can be found everywhere and are generally not harmful unless they are used frequently or for a long time. This could lead to a weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more common in older people or people suffering from heart disease. It can also occur to healthy individuals with normal, normal hearts. However, it's more prevalent in people who regularly exercise. It's not an issue that is serious however it is crucial to speak with a doctor if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many, occasional PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or need no treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or skipping the beat, it's best to seek out a physician immediately.
A cardiologist will begin by interviewing you and performing a physical examination, and listening to your heart with a stethoscope for any irregular beats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram, which captures the electrical impulses of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified, an all-day Holter monitor or a portable ECG will be required to record the irregular rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine whether you have PVCs, and their cause, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, toxic drugs or other factors.
You may be requested to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is in good order and to look for structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You may also be asked to take a stress test in order to find out the response of your heart to exercise. Physical activity can increase your frequency of PVCs. You can also take blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to determine whether they're low. This could lead to PVCs.
After your doctor has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs and has eliminated any serious illness, the decision on whether or not to treat them will depend on the extent to which they impact your life and how frequently they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will suggest any medication to decrease the frequency or severity of them.
If you experience frequent PVCs, which can cause palpitations or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your physician might prescribe medications like beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes such as cutting down on smoking, caffeine and stress, can reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
The following is a list of preventions.
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, which may be described as "skipped beats" or flutterings in the chest. These episodes can trigger an feeling of fullness or pressure, or they can make you feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as well as it should. Frequent PVCs increase a person's risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition wherein the heart gets larger and is not able to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemical balance. This can be caused by the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. A lack of exercise can also trigger these episodes, as can stress or excess weight.
Certain people find that a change in diet can reduce their 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) diazole sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits to ensure that they get sufficient magnesium and potassium.
Regular health checks are important, including yearly physicals. These can help diagnose any underlying heart conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. It is also recommended to 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 that could be used to treat infections caused by vascular catheters, but that their self-assessed compliance with these measures was low. After a feedback program, compliance improved on some wards but was still low. This suggests that education on how to implement the preventive measures is required and that the areas that are not as well-adjusted should be targeted for surveillance of infection. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely require further 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
The premature contraction of the ventricular muscle can cause your heartbeat to skip or flutter. These arrhythmias may be harmless, but they could indicate that you are suffering from serious heart issues.
In healthy individuals, occasional PVCs aren't an issue and they usually disappear by themselves. If you have many of them, it could cause dizziness or weakening. Talk to your doctor if worried. You might need to provide a medical history, and they might also perform an examination of the body to identify the issue. They might also need to conduct an electrocardiogram or other tests.
An ECG is a quick test that will allow your doctor to observe the signal generated by your heartbeat moving through your heart for an extremely short period of time. If you have PVCs, they'll show up in the test. Your doctor may also suggest to conduct an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor that records your heartbeat for longer durations of time. These can help differentiate PVCs from other arrhythmias which cause heart palpitations. You might also be wearing 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 behind your PVCs. For example an cardiologist may test your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These can help find the presence of a medical condition that may be the cause of your PVCs, 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 problem with electrolytes. For example, low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign that you suffer from PVCs, or another health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred to an electrophysiologist who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. The doctor may be required to conduct additional tests if you are suffering from structural heart diseases, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will help determine if your heart is damaged and the severity of the damage. In some instances, the doctor might recommend the use of a pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is creating your PVCs.