Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats usually aren't dangerous, and they can disappear by themselves.

To diagnose PVC doctors listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital indicators. They might order a Holter Monitor that captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a span of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also order blood tests for checking your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.

Diagnosis

PVCs are caused by electrical impulses from the heart's lower chambers ventricles misfire through a structure called the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to an experience similar to the heart is fluttering or skips beats. PVCs may occur alone or in repeated patterns. Doublets are PVCs that occur in a series of. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive PVCs.

Some people have no symptoms, whereas others experience heart palpitations. It can be felt as an unsteady heartbeat or a rapid heartbeat. Other symptoms are dizziness, fatigue or feeling unwell.

Many people who have occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a patient has frequent episodes, a doctor may recommend a change to diet or lifestyle. For example, limiting caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They may prescribe beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.

Doctors will ask about the person's medical history and conduct a physical exam to check their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity, or home window repair a Holter monitor, which is worn for longer time periods and records the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may order blood tests in certain cases to look for imbalances in electrolytes or toxic effects of drugs.

A pvc doctor may refer patients to an electrophysiologist or specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. This doctor can confirm a 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 can cause a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most prevalent in people who are older, or those who have some form of heart disease. This can happen to healthy individuals with normal, normal heart. However, it is more prevalent in people who exercise regularly. Most of the time, this isn't an issue to worry about however it is crucial to tell an expert if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.

Treatment

For many, occasional PVCs might not cause symptoms or need no treatment. If you notice that your heart is racing or slurring a beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately.

A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and performing a an examination of your body, listening to your heart with the stethoscope to look for irregular heartbeats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical impulses of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been detected, an portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor is required to capture the abnormal rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the cause of them, like an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity, or other factors.

You may be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is in good order and to look for structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You could also be required to undergo an exercise test to find out the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase your frequency of pvcs. You can also get blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to see whether they're low. This could cause PVCs.

If your doctor confirms that you suffer from PVCs, and has ruled any serious illness out, the decision to treat them is based on the impact they have on your life and the frequency they occur. If they occur only occasionally and don't cause any symptoms then your doctor is unlikely to recommend any treatment to decrease their frequency or severity.

If you experience frequent PVCs that trigger the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, such as light-headedness or feeling like you're going to faint, your doctor may suggest medications like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes such as cutting down on smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress can also reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.

Prevention

PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations that can feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. These episodes can trigger a feeling of fullness or pressure, or they can make you feel faint. These episodes happen because the heart is not functioning as efficiently as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart gets larger and in a position to not pump blood.

PVCs often are caused by changes in the body's chemical balance. These include the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Lack of exercise can trigger these episodes, as can stress or excess weight.

Certain people find that changing their diet can reduce the amount of PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause a disturbance in the heartbeat, for example disodium guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to ensure that you get enough magnesium.

Regular health checks are important as are annual physicals. These tests can help identify any heart-related conditions that could cause your PVCs. It is also recommended to avoid smoking and follow an appropriate diet plan. This could increase the frequency of episodes.

A survey of 14 regular hospital wards revealed that healthcare workers were generally aware of preventive measures to avoid infections caused by vascular catheters, however their self-assessment of conformity to these guidelines was low. The compliance improved following a feedback intervention, but was still low on a few of the observed wards. This suggests that education on how to implement the preventive measures is necessary and that the areas that are not as well-adjusted should be targeted for surveillance of infection. This information could be used to guide the implementation of additional quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will likely require further training and education for staff. It will also mean making sure that the right materials are available for the implementation of the preventive measures.

Signs and symptoms

If you feel that your heart is racing or fluttering, it may be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they can be the sign of heart problems.

In healthy individuals, occasional PVCs aren't an issue and they usually disappear on their own. If you have many of them, it could cause dizziness or weakness. Consult your doctor if you're concerned. They may have to identify the issue by taking an history of your medical condition and performing an examination. They might also need to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.

A short ECG test allows your doctor to see the heartbeat signal moving through your body over a short period of time. The test will show whether you have PVCs. Your doctor might also want to conduct an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat for longer durations of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a portable device that keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.

Other tests for your heart might be required, based on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure, or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). This can help determine the presence of a medical condition that may be causing your PVCs or heart valves, such as cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.

Your doctor may also have to conduct an analysis of your blood to determine what the problem is in your electrolytes, like low potassium or high calcium levels. This can be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that may cause them, including anxiety disorders and anemia.

You may be referred a specialist in electrophysiology, who treats abnormal heart rhythms. This specialist may need to perform other tests if you are suffering from heart problems that are structural like a CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether your heart is damaged and how severe it is. In certain cases, a specialist might suggest an implantable pacemaker or Tilt and Turn window repair ICD to treat the underlying issue causing your PVCs.