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.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vitals signs. They may order an Holter monitor which is a device that records the electrical impulses your heart produces over the course of 24 hours. window doctors near me can also order blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that reverberate through the SA node, which is a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the heartbeat to be delayed and causes an experience of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can be seen in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the term ventricular tachycardia (VT).
While some people don't have any symptoms at all Some experience palpitations, which can feel like an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other signs are dizziness, fatigue or a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a doctor may recommend a change to the diet or lifestyle. For example restricting caffeine and stress as well as alcohol. They might prescribe beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and perform a physical examination to determine their general health. They can also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor that is worn for longer durations and captures the heart's rhythms over time. In certain cases doctors may require blood tests to look for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer someone to a specialist for heart rhythm issues or an electrophysiologist to conduct a further examination. This specialist can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not.
PVCs are all over the place and aren't usually 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 called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common in people who are older or those suffering from some type of heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. This is not a serious problem, but it is important to tell your doctor if symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
For many people, occasional PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. But, for those who feel their heart has skipped a beat or is racing, it's important to speak to a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and performing a physical examination, and monitoring your heart using an stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical impulses of your heart, allowing you to identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is discovered then a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to record the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and their causes like an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other factors.
An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to determine whether your heart is healthy and look for any signs of structural problems that could lead to PVCs. You could also have a stress test to check how your heart reacts to exercise, as physical activity can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also have blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to determine whether they're insufficient. This could lead to PVCs.
After your doctor confirms that you have PVCs and has ruled any serious illness out, the decision to treat them depends on how they impact your life and how often they occur. If they happen only infrequently and do not cause symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any medication that will decrease their frequency or severity.
However, if you have frequent PVCs that do cause the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, such as feeling lightheaded or like you're about to faint, your doctor may suggest medications like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, such as abstaining from smoking, caffeine and stress levels that are excessive can also decrease the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
A person may experience no symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can feel like "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. These episodes can cause an feeling of pressure or fullness, or make you feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as well as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart becomes enlarged and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemistry. They can be caused by the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. A lack of exercise can trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excessive weight.
Certain people find that altering their diet can reduce the number of PVCs. They can, for example avoid foods that contain preservatives which can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and diazole, and disodium inosinate Sodium (E282-283). You can also take in more fruits and vegetables to ensure they're getting enough potassium and magnesium.
Regular health checks are important, including yearly physicals. These tests can help you identify any heart conditions that may cause 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 professionals on 14 normal hospital wards found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat vascular catheter-related infections However, their self-assessed compliance with these measures was not great. After a feedback intervention that improved compliance on certain wards but was still low. This suggests that education is required on how to implement preventive measures, and those wards that are not than compliant should be targeted for monitoring of infection. This information can be used to help in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will likely require more education and training for staff. It will also be necessary to ensure that the right materials for implementing the preventive measures are readily available.
Signs and symptoms
The premature contraction of the ventricular muscle can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or be fluttering. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they could be a sign of serious heart problems.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They usually disappear on their own. However, if you suffer from a lot of them, they may lead to dizziness or weakness. Consult your doctor if you are concerned. You might need to provide your medical history and they may also conduct a physical examination in order to identify the issue. They might also need to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
An ECG is a quick test that allows your health care provider observe the signal generated by your heartbeat as it moves through your heart in an extremely short period of duration. The test will determine whether you have PVCs. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over 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 which tracks your heart's rhythm over 30 days.
Other tests for your heart might be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure, or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can reveal whether you suffer from a condition that may be causing your PVCs or heart valves, such as cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor may also be required to conduct a blood test to determine the issue with your electrolytes. For instance, a low level of potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that may cause them, including anemia and anxiety disorders.
You may be referred a specialist in electrophysiology, who can treat irregular heart rhythms. If you have structural heart disease, this specialist might need to do other tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will tell you if you have damage to your heart, and how serious it is. In some instances an expert may recommend pacemakers to treat the issue which is causing the PVCs.