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Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are generally not dangerous and can go away by themselves.
To diagnose PVC doctors listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They may also order an Holter Monitor which records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a span of 24 to 48 hours. They might also order blood tests to assess your thyroid and electrolyte levels. 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 the feeling of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs may occur alone, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, while three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Some people have no symptoms, whereas others experience heart palpitations. It could be a pounding heartbeat or a rapid heartbeat. Other common symptoms are tiredness or dizziness, or a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who have occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a patient is experiencing frequent episodes, a physician might suggest a change in diet or lifestyle. For instance the restriction of caffeine, stress, and alcohol. They may also prescribe medication like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and perform a physical examination to assess their general health. They can also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture an image of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor, which is worn for longer durations and records the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may order blood tests in some instances to check for electrolyte imbalances or toxic effects of drugs.
A pvc doctor might refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. This doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or malignant.
PVCs can be found everywhere and are not usually harmful unless they are used frequently or for a long time. This can cause a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most prevalent in people who are older or those suffering from some form of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with normal heart function, but this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. It's not an issue that is serious however it is crucial to tell your doctor if you experience symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many, occasional PVCs may not cause any symptoms or require no treatment. But, for those who feel your heart is lagging an beat or is racing, it's vital to consult a physician immediately.
A cardiologist will then interview you and perform a physical examination and listen to your heart through an stethoscope to identify any irregular beats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) done, which will record the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified it is recommended to have a 24-hour Holter monitor or a portable ECG will be needed to detect the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will assist doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the reason behind them, like an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicities, or other causes.
You may be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is good and to look for structural problems which could lead to PVCs. You could also be required to undergo a stress test in order to determine the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase the frequency of pvcs. You can also take blood tests to test your thyroid hormone as well as potassium, magnesium and other hormones to see whether they're insufficient. This could cause PVCs.
After your doctor has determined that you're suffering from PVCs and has ruled out any serious illnesses, the decision on how to treat them will be based on the degree to which they're affecting your life and how frequently they occur. If they occur only occasionally and do not cause symptoms the doctor is not likely to recommend any treatment that will decrease their frequency or severity.
If, however, you suffer from frequent PVCs that do cause the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, like lightheadedness or feeling like you're about to faint, your doctor might suggest medication like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changes in lifestyle, like avoiding caffeine, smoking and stress levels that are excessive can also reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations which may feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. These episodes can trigger feelings of fullness or pressure, or they can make you feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as effectively as it should. PVCs are linked to an increased chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart expands and becomes in a position to not pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in the body's chemical. These include the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, in addition to drinking alcohol or caffeine. Lack of exercise can also trigger these episodes, as can stress or excessive weight.
Some people can find that a change in diet helps reduce their PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause disturbances in the heart rhythm, such as disodium Guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627), and diazole sodium (E282-283). You can also consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure they're getting sufficient magnesium and potassium.
It is essential to have regular health checks, which include annual physicals and lab tests. They can aid in identifying any heart-related conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to a healthy eating plan and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 normal hospital wards found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat vascular catheter-associated infections However, their self-assessed compliance with these practices was not great. Compliance improved following a feedback intervention however, it was still low on some of the wards surveyed. This suggests that training on how to implement the preventive measures is required and that 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 additional education and training of personnel. It will also be necessary to ensure that the correct materials for implementing the preventive measures are available.
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 the sign of heart problems.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not an issue. They usually disappear by themselves. If you've got many of them, it could cause dizziness or weakness. If you're worried, talk to your doctor about them. You may need to give an medical history, and they might also perform an examination to determine the cause. They may also do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
An ECG is a quick test that will allow your doctor to see the signal from your heartbeat as it moves through your heart in the course of a brief duration. The test will reveal if you have PVCs. Your doctor may also suggest a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat for a longer period of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, which is 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 reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist may check your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can tell if you suffer from a condition like heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also be required to run tests on your blood to identify the problem with your electrolytes. For example, low potassium or high levels 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 directed to an electrophysiologist, an expert who specializes in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal. If you have structural heart disease, this specialist might need to perform additional tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can tell whether you've suffered damage to your heart, and how serious it is. In some cases, the doctor may suggest a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying condition that's causing your PVCs.