A Look At The Ugly Reality About Pvc Doctor
Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. This Web page are usually not dangerous and can be cured by themselves.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat and also check other vital signs. They might order a Holter monitor which tracks your heart's electrical impulses over the course of 24 hours. They can also order blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs occur when electrical impulses coming from the heart's lower chambers, or ventricles, misfire through a structure known as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing a feeling like racing or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen in one pattern or repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people have no symptoms, whereas others experience heart palpitations. It can be felt as a pounding heartbeat or a skipping heartbeat. Other symptoms are dizziness, fatigue or feeling unwell.
Many people who have occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors could recommend a change in lifestyle or diet including a reduction in alcohol, caffeine and stress. They may also prescribe medication, such as calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers, which can slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will inquire about their medical history, and then perform a physical examination to determine their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture an image of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor, which is worn for longer time periods and captures the heart's rhythms over time. In some cases doctors may request blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
A pvc doctor may refer patients to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. The doctor can confirm a diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or malignant.
PVCs are fairly common and rarely cause any problems, unless they happen frequently over a long time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more common in older adults or those suffering from heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however this is more likely for those who exercise regularly. It's not a serious issue, but you should inform your doctor if symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful and do not cause any symptoms in the majority of people. They do not require treatment. If you notice that your heart is racing or not making a beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will start by interviewing you and doing an examination of your body, listening to your heart with an stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed that records the electrical signals in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected, a 24-hour Holter monitor or another portable ECG is required to record the abnormal rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the cause of them, such as an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicities, or any other cause.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to determine whether your heart is healthy and check for indications of structural issues that can lead to PVCs. You might also have a stress test to see how your heart reacts to exercise, since physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also get blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to see if they're too low. This could cause PVCs.
After your doctor has determined that you're suffering from PVCs and has eliminated any serious diseases, the decision on how to treat them will be based on how much they're impacting your life and how often they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any medication to decrease their frequency or severity.
If you experience frequent PVCs that do cause palpitations and other symptoms, like lightheadedness or feeling like you're going to faint, your physician might recommend medications for you, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changing your lifestyle to stay clear of triggers, such as smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can reduce the frequency of times you experience these unusual pulses.
The following is a list with preventions.
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations which can feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in your chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger an increase in pressure or fullness in the chest, and other occasions, they may cause a person to feel faint. These episodes happen because the heart isn't pumping as effectively as normal. PVCs are associated with a higher chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart gets larger and in a position to not pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry. These include the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or excess weight, as well as a lack of exercise, can trigger these symptoms.
Some people find that changing their diet can reduce PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods with preservatives, which can cause disturbances in the heart rhythm, such as disodium Guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) and diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and vegetables to get sufficient magnesium.
Regular health checks are important, including yearly physicals. These tests can help you identify any heart-related conditions that could be causing your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to an appropriate diet and refrain from smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of 14 regular hospital wards showed that healthcare personnel were generally aware of preventive measures for the infection caused by vascular catheters, but their self-assessed conformity to these procedures was not high. After a feedback intervention the compliance level improved on a few areas, but was still very low. This suggests that education is required to implement preventive measures and that wards that are less conforming should be targeted for infection monitoring. This information can be used to guide the implementation of additional quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will likely involve further training and education for personnel. It will also require making sure that the appropriate materials are available for the implementation of preventive measures.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or be fluttering. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they may be an indication of serious heart problems.
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. If you're worried, talk to your doctor about them. They may have to identify the issue by taking an medical history and performing an examination. They may also do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
An ECG is a quick test that will allow your doctor to detect the signal of your heartbeat as it moves through your heart for a short period of time. The test will reveal whether you have PVCs. Your doctor may also suggest a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat for a longer period of time. This can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias which cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a portable device which keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for the heart may be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For instance, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure and do an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests can reveal if you have a issue that could be the cause of your PVCs or heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to conduct a blood test to determine the issue with your electrolytes. For example, low potassium levels or a high level of calcium. This could be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, such as anxiety disorders and anemia.
You may be referred to an electrophysiologist an expert who specializes in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal. If you suffer from structural heart disease, this specialist might need to perform additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will tell you whether you've damaged your heart and how serious it is. In some instances an expert may recommend pacemakers to treat the condition that causes the PVCs.