Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs), are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are generally not harmful and will go away by themselves.
To determine PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital indicators. They might order a Holter monitor, a device that records the electrical impulses your heart produces over 24-48 hours. They can also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses from the heart's lower chambers ventricles, or lower chambers, fail to pass through a structure known as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to a feeling like racing or skipped beats. PVCs may occur alone or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets, while three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as ventricular tachycardia (VT).
While some people don't have any symptoms whatsoever Some experience palpitations, that can be felt as an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other common symptoms are tiredness and dizziness, as well as a feeling of being unwell.
A lot of people who have occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a physician might recommend a change in the diet or lifestyle. For instance, limiting caffeine and stress as well as alcohol. They may prescribe medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
Doctors will ask about the patient's medical history and perform a physical examination to determine their general health. window doctors can also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor that is worn for longer time periods and monitors the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may require blood tests in certain cases to check for electrolyte imbalances or toxic effects of drugs.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm issues, or an electrophysiologist, for further evaluation. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are benign or malignant.
PVCs are fairly frequent and usually don't cause any problems unless they occur frequently over a long period of time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more prevalent 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. Usually, this isn't a serious concern, but it is important to speak with a doctor if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many, occasional PVCs may not cause any symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. But those who do feel your heart is lagging an beat or is racing, it's important to see a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will interview you and then perform physical examinations and listen to your heart with a stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed to record the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been identified, a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to capture the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and their causes like an imbalance in electrolytes, toxic drugs or other causes.
You might be requested to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is in good shape and to check for structural issues that could cause PVCs. You might also have a stress test to check how your heart reacts to physical activity can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also take blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to determine whether they're low. This could lead to PVCs.
Once your doctor has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled out any serious illness and has made a decision about whether or not to treat them will be based 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 prescribe any medication to lessen the frequency or severity of them.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs that cause pulses or other symptoms, like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor might prescribe medications like beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, such as cutting down on smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress can also decrease the frequency of these irregular pulses.
The following is a list of preventatives.
A person might not experience any symptoms at all from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may feel like "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger a fullness or pressure in the chest, and other occasions, they may make someone feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart isn't functioning as efficiently as it should. PVCs are linked to an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and in a position to not pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical. These include the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Lack of exercise can trigger these episodes like stress or excess weight.
Some people have found that a change in diet helps reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause disturbances in the heartbeat, for example disodium guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to get sufficient magnesium.
It is important to get regular health checks, including annual physicals and laboratory tests. They can aid in identifying any heart-related conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. You should also refrain from smoking 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 revealed that they were aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat vascular catheter-associated infections however, their self-assessment of compliance with these guidelines was low. Compliance improved following a feedback intervention however it was still very lower on some of the wards surveyed. This suggests that training on how to implement preventive measures is essential 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 training and education for personnel. It will also be important to ensure that the right tools for implementing the preventive measures are readily available.
Symptoms
Involuntary ventricular contractions that are premature can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or flutter. These arrhythmias could be harmless, or they could be a sign that you have serious heart problems.
In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't an issue and they usually disappear by themselves. If you've got many of them, it could cause dizziness or weakening. If you're worried you might be experiencing dizziness or weakness, talk to your doctor about the symptoms. You might be required to provide an medical history, and they may also conduct an examination of the body to diagnose the problem. They'll also probably want to do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
An ECG is a simple test that lets your health care provider detect the signal of your heartbeat moving through your heart in an extremely short period of time. If you have PVCs, they'll be visible in the test. Your doctor might also want to perform a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat for longer periods of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You may also be wearing a device that records your heart's rhythm over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor.
Other tests for your heart might be required, based on the reason behind your PVCs. For example a cardiologist could check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These can help find the presence of a medical condition that is responsible for your PVCs like mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also need to run an analysis of your blood to determine the problem with electrolytes. For instance, a low level of potassium levels or a high level of calcium. This could be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, including anxiety disorders and anemia.
You could be referred to an electrophysiologist, an expert who specializes in treating abnormal heart rhythms. If you suffer from heart disease that is structural, this specialist might need to conduct additional tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will help determine whether your heart has been damaged and the severity of the damage. In certain cases doctors may suggest an implanted pacemaker to treat the issue that is causing the PVCs.