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Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not harmful and will disappear on their own.
double glazing doctor will monitor your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They might order a Holter monitor which records your heart's electrical impulses over 24-48 hours. They can also order blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs occur when electrical impulses from the heart's lower chambers, or ventricles, misfire through a structure referred to as the SA node. This delays the next heartbeat and causes a feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can be seen in one pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, while three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the condition known as ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, but others experience heart palpitations. It can be felt as the sound of a beating heart or a skipping heartbeat. Other symptoms are dizziness, fatigue or feeling unwell.
Many people with occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors might suggest a change in lifestyle or diet including a reduction in alcohol, caffeine and stress. They may also prescribe medication such as beta-blockers or calcium channel 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 determine their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms over longer durations, or an electrocardiogram, which records a snapshot of the electrical activity of the heart. In certain instances doctors may request blood tests to look for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
A pvc doctor may refer a patient to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are malignant or benign.
PVCs can be found everywhere and are generally not harmful unless they are used regularly or for long periods of time. This could lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common for people over the age of 65 or those suffering from any form of heart disease. It can also happen to healthy people with normal, normal heart. However, it's more prevalent among those who exercise regularly. Most of the time, this isn't a serious concern but it's important to speak with an expert if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
PVCs aren't harmful or cause symptoms in many people. They do not require treatment. However those who do feel their heart has skipped a beat or is racing, it's important to speak to a doctor as soon as possible.
A cardiologist will first interview you and then perform an examination of your body by listening to your heart using an stethoscope to identify any irregular beats. Additionally, you will have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done, which will record the electrical impulses in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is discovered, the use of a portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to document the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices can help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the reason behind them, such as an electrolyte imbalance, drug toxicity, or other factors.
An echocardiogram, an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to determine whether your heart is in good health and check for indications of structural issues which could cause PVCs. You may also undergo a stress test to check 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 determine whether they are insufficient, which can contribute to the formation of PVCs.
After your doctor confirms that you have PVCs and has ruled any serious illnesses out, the treatment option you choose is based on the impact they have on your life and how often they occur. If they occur only occasionally and do not cause symptoms the doctor is not likely to recommend any treatment to decrease their frequency or severity.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs, which can cause heart palpitations, or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Altering your lifestyle to avoid triggers, like caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can help lower the number of times you experience these irregular pulses.
Prevention
There are people who do not experience symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can feel like "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause the chest to feel full or swollen in the chest. Other times, they can make a person feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. PVCs are linked to an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart gets larger and unable to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry. This includes the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or excess weight and an insufficient amount of exercise can trigger these episodes.
Some people can find that a change in diet helps to reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods that contain preservatives that can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, disodium Inosinate, and diazole Sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.
Regular health checks are important and include annual physicals. These tests can help you identify any heart conditions that may be causing your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to a healthy eating plan and refrain from smoking, which can increase the frequency of your 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-related infections however, their self-assessment of compliance with these practices was not great. Compliance improved after a feedback intervention, but was still low on a few of the observed wards. This suggests that training is required on how to implement preventive measures, and those wards that are not conforming should be targeted for monitoring of infection. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely involve more education and training for staff. It will also require making sure that the right materials are in place for the implementing of the preventive measures.
Symptoms
If you feel your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it may be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be normal, or they could be a sign that you have heart issues that are serious.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They generally disappear on their own. If you have many of them, it could cause dizziness or weakening. Speak to your doctor if you are worried. They may need to determine the issue by taking an history of your medical condition and giving you a physical exam. They may also do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A short ECG test allows your doctor to see the signal of your heartbeat moving through your body for a a short period of time. The test will reveal if you have PVCs. Your doctor might 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 that cause heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, a portable device which tracks your heart's rhythm over 30 days.
Other tests for the heart may be required, depending on the reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure or conduct an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests will determine whether you have an issue such as heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also be required to do an examination of your blood to determine what is wrong with your electrolytes, such as low potassium or high calcium levels. This can be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, such as anemia and anxiety disorders.
You may be directed to an electrophysiologist, a specialist who specializes in treating irregular heart rhythms. The specialist might need to conduct other tests if you suffer from heart problems that are structural like the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will tell you if you have damage to your heart and how serious it is. In certain cases an expert may recommend pacemakers to treat the condition which is causing the PVCs.