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 go away by themselves.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat and look for other vitals signs. They might order a Holter Monitor that captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a time of 24 to 48 hours. They may also order blood tests to determine your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses from the heart's lower chambers ventricles misfire through a structure referred to as the SA node. This delays the next heartbeat which can cause an experience of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can be seen as a single event or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets, while three or more consecutive PVCs constitute ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Some people don't experience any symptoms Others experience heart palpitations which could feel like the heart beating faster or slower. Other typical symptoms include fatigue, dizziness or a sensation of being sick.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors could suggest a change to diet or lifestyle, such as limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They may also prescribe medication such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and perform a physical examination to check on their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms for a longer period of time, or an electrocardiogram, which takes a snapshot at the electrical activity of the heart. Doctors may order blood tests in certain cases to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or toxic substances in the body.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm issues or an electrophysiologist to conduct a further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not.
PVCs are common and rarely cause any problems except when they are frequent over a long time. This could lead to a weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more prevalent in older people or those suffering from heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with normal heart function, but this is more likely for those who exercise regularly. It's not a serious problem, but it is important to inform your doctor if symptoms such as fainting or fatigue occur.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful or cause symptoms in a lot of people. They do not require treatment. However, for those who do experience a sensation like your heart is lagging a beat or is racing, it's vital to consult a physician immediately.
A cardiologist will then interview you and perform an examination of your body, listening to your heart with an stethoscope to identify any irregular beats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed to record the electrical impulses in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been identified, the use of a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor is required to record the abnormal rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the reason for them like an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other causes.
An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, could be ordered to assess whether your heart is in good health and look for any indications of structural issues which could cause PVCs. You may also undergo a stress test to check how your heart responds to exercise, since physical activity can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You may also undergo blood tests to determine your thyroid, magnesium, and potassium hormone levels to find out whether they are insufficient and can cause the formation of PVCs.
If your doctor confirms that you have PVCs, and has ruled any serious diseases out, the treatment option you choose is based on the impact they have on your life and how frequently they occur. If they occur only occasionally and do not cause any symptoms the doctor is not likely to prescribe any medication to decrease their frequency or severity.
If you have frequent PVCs that can trigger palpitations or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor might prescribe medications like beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changing your lifestyle to stay clear of triggers, such as smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress, can also reduce the frequency of times you experience these irregular pulses.
The following is a list with preventions.
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations which can be described as "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes cause the chest to feel full or swollen in the chest, and other occasions, they may make someone feel faint. These episodes happen because the heart is not pumping as efficiently as it normally does. The frequent PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition wherein the heart expands and is not able to pump blood.
PVCs often are caused by changes in the body's chemical balance. This is due to the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline and alcohol consumption or caffeine. A lack of exercise can trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excess weight.
Some people find that changing their diet may help to reduce the amount of PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause a disturbance in the heart rhythm, such as disodium Guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.
It is crucial to undergo regular health check-ups, which include annual physicals and lab tests. These can help diagnose any underlying heart conditions that could be causing your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to a healthy eating plan and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare workers on 14 wards of a normal hospital 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 guidelines was low. After a feedback intervention that improved compliance on certain wards but was still low. This suggests that education on how to implement the preventive measures is essential and that wards which are less compliant should be targeted for infection surveillance. This information can then be used to help in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives on these wards. This will likely require more education and training for personnel. It is also necessary to ensure that the appropriate materials for implementing the preventive measures are in place.
Symptoms
Involuntary ventricular contractions that are premature can cause your heartbeat to skip or be fluttering. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they may be the sign of heart problems.
In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't a problem and they generally disappear on their own. If you have many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. Consult your doctor if you are concerned. You may need to give a medical history, and they may also conduct an examination to diagnose the problem. They might also need to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
A quick ECG test allows your doctor to see the signal of your heartbeat going through your body over a an extremely short time. If you have PVCs, they will show in the test. Your doctor may also decide to do a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat for longer durations of time. the window doctor can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a portable device which keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.
Other heart tests may be required, based on the reason for your PVCs. For instance, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These tests will determine whether you have a condition like heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also be required to do a blood test to see what's wrong with your electrolytes, such as low potassium or high levels of calcium. This can be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, such as anxiety disorders and anemia.
You could be referred to an electrophysiologist, one of the specialists who specialize in treating abnormal heart rhythms. This specialist may need to conduct other tests if you suffer from heart conditions that cause structural damage like a CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will determine whether your heart has been damaged and how severe it is. In some instances, the doctor might recommend a pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is the cause of your PVCs.