Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contracts (PVCs), are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats aren't usually hazardous, and they could disappear by themselves.
To determine PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat and check other vital indicators. They might order an Holter monitor which is a device that tracks your heart's electrical impulses over the course of 24 hours. They may also order blood tests to determine your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that reverberate through the SA node, which is a structure in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to an experience similar to fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen as a single event, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
While some people don't show any symptoms whatsoever Some experience palpitations, that can be felt as a pounding or skipping heartbeat. Other symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, or a feeling that you're unwell.
A lot of people who have occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors might suggest a change to lifestyle or diet like limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They can prescribe medications such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
Doctors will inquire about their medical history and perform a physical examination to determine 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. In certain instances doctors may require blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
A pvc doctor may refer the patient to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. The doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are malignant or benign.
PVCs are everywhere and are not usually harmful unless they are used frequently or for a long time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most prevalent for people over the age of 65, or those who have some form of heart disease. It can also occur to healthy people who have normal, normal heart. However, it's more common in those who exercise regularly. Usually, this isn't an issue that is serious however it is crucial to speak with your doctor if you experience symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful and do not cause symptoms in a lot of people. They do not require treatment. However when you do experience a sensation like their heart has skipped the beat or is racing, it's crucial to consult a physician as soon as you can.
A cardiologist will interview you and then perform a physical examination and listen to your heart using a stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. You'll also undergo an electrocardiogram, which captures the electrical impulses of your heart, allowing you to identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is discovered then an portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to document the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the cause of them, such as an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicities, or other causes.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to determine whether your heart is in good health and to look for indications of structural issues that can lead to PVCs. You may also undergo a stress test to see how your heart reacts to exercise, as 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 see whether they're insufficient. This could cause PVCs.
After your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs and has eliminated any serious illnesses, the decision on how to treat them will be based on the degree to which they're affecting your life and the frequency at which they occur. If they occur only occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will suggest any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.
If you experience frequent PVCs that can trigger palpitations or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to stay clear of triggers, such as smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress, can also aid in reducing the frequency of occurrences of these unusual pulses.
The following is a list of preventatives.
A person might not experience any symptoms at all from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can feel like "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. These episodes can cause an feeling of pressure or fullness or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as effectively as it should. PVCs are associated with a higher chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart expands and becomes unable to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical. This includes the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, as well drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or weight gain or an insufficient amount of exercise can trigger these symptoms.
Certain people find that a change in their diet helps to reduce their PVCs. They can, for instance avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and diazole, and disodium inosinate sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.
Regular health checks are crucial, including yearly physicals. These tests can help diagnose any heart issues that could cause your PVCs. It is also recommended to not smoke and adhere to an appropriate diet plan. This could increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff 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-assessed compliance with these measures was low. After a feedback intervention the compliance level improved on a few areas, but was still very low. This suggests that training is needed on how to implement preventive measures, and those wards that are less compliant need to be targeted for monitoring of infection. This information can be used to guide the implementation of additional quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will likely require further training and education for personnel. It will also be important to ensure that the right materials for implementing the preventive measures are in place.
Symptoms
If you feel your heart is racing or fluttering, it could be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they could be an indication of serious heart problems.
In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not an issue. They usually disappear by themselves. But if you have many of them, they can lead to dizziness or weakness. Talk to your doctor if concerned. You might need to provide your medical history and they may also conduct an examination to identify the issue. They'll also probably want to do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A short ECG test lets your doctor see the heartbeat signal moving through your body for a the course of a brief period. If glass doctor have PVCs, they will show on the test. Your doctor might also suggest the use of a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat for a longer period of time. These can help differentiate PVCs from other arrhythmias which cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, which is a portable device that tracks your heart's rhythm over 30 days.
Other tests for your heart might be needed, depending on the reason for your PVCs. For example a cardiologist could check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests can reveal the presence of a medical issue that could be causing your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to perform an analysis of your blood to determine the problem with your electrolytes. For instance, a low level of potassium or high levels of calcium. This could indicate that you have PVCs or a different problem such as anemia, or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred to an electrophysiologist who treats abnormal heart rhythms. If you have heart disease that is structural the specialist may have to do other tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether you've damaged your heart and how serious it is. In some cases, the doctor may recommend a pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is causing your PVCs.