Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats usually aren't dangerous, and they can go away by themselves.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They might order an Holter monitor which tracks your heart's electrical impulses over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They may also request blood tests to check your thyroid and electrolyte levels. hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs happen when electrical impulses from the lower chambers of the heart ventricles, or lower chambers, fail to pass through a structure known as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to delay, which can cause the sensation of the heart is fluttering or skips beats. PVCs may occur alone or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the condition known as ventricular tachycardia (VT).
While some people don't have any symptoms Others experience heart palpitations which can feel like a pounding or skipping heartbeat. Other typical symptoms include fatigue or dizziness, or a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a patient has frequent episodes, a doctor might suggest a change in the diet or lifestyle. For example restricting caffeine and stress as well as alcohol. They may also prescribe medication, such as calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers which can lower the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask about the patient's medical history and do a physical exam to assess their general health. They may also employ an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take an image of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor, which is worn for longer time periods and monitors the heart's rhythms over time. In certain cases, doctors may order blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
A pvc doctor might refer a 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 quite frequent and usually don't cause any problems, unless they occur frequently over a long time. This could lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more common in people who are older or those suffering from some form of heart disease. It can also happen to healthy people with normal, normal hearts. However, it is more prevalent among those who regularly exercise. It is not a major condition, but you should inform your doctor if symptoms such as fainting or fatigue occur.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful or cause any symptoms in the majority of people. They do not require treatment. If you notice that your heart is racing or not making an entire beat, you need to seek out a physician immediately.
A cardiologist will first interview you and conduct a physical examination by listening to your heart with the stethoscope in order to detect any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done that records the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified then an all-day Holter monitor or another portable ECG will be required to detect the irregular rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices will assist doctors determine if you have PVCs and the reason behind them, such as an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicities, or other causes.
You might be required to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine if your heart health is in good shape and to check for structural issues which could lead to PVCs. You may also undergo an exercise test to determine how your heart reacts to physical activity can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also get blood tests to test your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium and other hormones to see if they're too low. This can lead to PVCs.
If your doctor has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs, and has ruled any serious diseases out, the treatment option you choose depends on how they impact your life and how often they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will recommend any medication to decrease the frequency or severity of them.
If, however, you suffer from frequent PVCs that do cause the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, such as feeling lightheaded or like you're going to faint, your doctor might suggest medication like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changes in lifestyle, like abstaining from smoking, caffeine and stress, can reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
There are people who do not experience symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may be felt as "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. These episodes can cause a feeling of fullness or pressure, or they can make you feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart is not functioning as efficiently as it should. The frequent PVCs increase the risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart enlarges and is not able to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry. This is due to the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, as well drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or weight gain or a lack of exercise, can trigger these episodes.
Certain people find that changing their diet may help to reduce the number of 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) and diazole sodium (E282-283). They can also take in more fruits and vegetables to ensure they're getting sufficient magnesium and potassium.
Regular health checks are crucial and include annual physicals. These tests can help you identify any heart-related conditions that could cause your PVCs. You should also not smoke and adhere to an appropriate diet program. This could increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of healthcare workers on 14 wards of a normal hospital showed that they were generally aware of the preventive measures for vascular catheter-associated infections however, their self-assessment of compliance with these measures was not great. Compliance improved after an intervention to improve feedback however it was still very low on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that education is required on how to implement preventive measures and those wards that are less conforming should be targeted for infection monitoring. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will most likely require further education and training for personnel. It will also require making sure that the appropriate materials are in place for the implementation of the preventive measures.
Symptoms
If you feel like your heart is skipping beats or fluttering, it may be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias aren't necessarily dangerous or they may be a sign of serious heart issues.
In healthy individuals, occasional PVCs aren't an issue and they usually disappear on their own. If you've got a lot of them, it can cause dizziness or weakening. Talk to window doctor if worried. You might need to provide your medical history and they might also perform an examination of the body to identify the issue. They may also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A quick ECG test will allow your doctor to observe the pulse of your heart moving through your body for a an extremely short time. The test will reveal whether you have PVCs. Your doctor may also suggest to conduct an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat over longer periods of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, a portable device which keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for your heart might be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For instance an cardiologist may test your blood pressure, and also perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests can reveal the presence of a medical issue that could be responsible for your PVCs, such as cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor may also need to conduct an analysis of your blood to determine the issue with electrolytes. For instance, you may have low potassium levels or a high level of calcium. This can be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, like anemia and anxiety disorders.
You might be referred to an electrophysiologist a specialist who specializes in treating abnormal heart rhythms. This specialist may need to conduct other tests if you are suffering from heart conditions that cause structural damage, such as the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will determine if your heart is damaged and the severity of the damage. In some instances, the doctor may recommend the use of a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying condition that's causing your PVCs.