Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats usually aren't hazardous, and they could go away on their own.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat, and check other vitals signs. They might order a Holter Monitor, which records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a span of between 24 and 48 hours. They might also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs happen when electrical impulses from the heart's lower chambers ventricles, or lower chambers, fail to pass through a structure known as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to delay, which can cause an experience similar to fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs may occur alone, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the condition known as ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, whereas others experience palpitations. This can feel like the sound of a beating heart or a slurred heartbeat. Other signs are dizziness, fatigue or a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a doctor might recommend a change in the diet or lifestyle. For instance restricting caffeine, stress, and alcohol. They may also prescribe medications, such as calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and conduct an examination to check on their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms over longer durations, or an electrocardiogram, which captures a picture of the electrical activity of the heart. In certain cases doctors may request blood tests to look for an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
A pvc doctor may refer patients to an electrophysiologist or specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. The doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are malignant or benign.
PVCs are common and don't usually cause any problems unless they happen frequently over a long period of time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common in people who are older or those suffering from some form of heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with a normal heart, although this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. This is not a serious condition, but you should consult your physician if you notice symptoms like fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
PVCs aren't harmful or cause symptoms in many people. They don't require treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or skipping a beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will first interview you and conduct physical examinations, listening to your heart with an stethoscope to identify any irregular heartbeats. You'll also undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical signals of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found it is recommended to have you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or a portable ECG is required to detect the abnormal rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you have PVCs and their causes like an imbalance in electrolytes, toxic drugs or other factors.
window doctor , or an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to assess whether your heart is healthy and to look for indications of structural issues which could cause PVCs. You could also be required to undergo an exercise test to find out how your heart reacts to exercise. Physical activity can increase the frequency of PVCs. You can also take blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to determine if they're too low. This can lead to PVCs.
After your doctor has confirmed that you're suffering from PVCs and has eliminated any serious illness and has made a decision about whether or not to treat them will depend on the extent to which they impact your life and how frequently they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will suggest any medication to lessen 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. Changes in lifestyle, such as abstaining from smoking, caffeine and stress, can also decrease the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
A person may experience no symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that can appear as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes cause a fullness or pressure in the chest, and at other times, they can cause a person to feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as effectively as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart becomes enlarged and in a position to not pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical. This includes the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or weight gain or an insufficient amount of exercise can trigger these episodes.
Some people find that changing their diet can help reduce the number of PVCs. For instance, 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). Eat more fruits and veggies to get sufficient magnesium.
Regular health checks are important, including yearly physicals. They can aid in identifying any heart issues that could be causing your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to an appropriate diet and avoid smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 wards of a normal hospital revealed that they were aware of the preventive measures for vascular catheter-related infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these guidelines was poor. The compliance improved following feedback interventions however, it was still lower on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that education on how to implement preventive measures is required and that wards which are less compliant should be targeted for surveillance of infection. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely involve more training and education for staff. It will also mean making sure that the appropriate tools are available for implementation of the preventive measures.
Symptoms
If you feel like your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it may be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless, but they could indicate you have heart issues that are serious.
In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't an issue and they generally disappear by themselves. If you've got a lot of them, it could cause dizziness or weakening. If you're worried about them, consult your doctor about them. They may have to identify the issue by taking an history of your medical condition and conducting an examination. They'll likely also need to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A short ECG test lets your doctor see the signal of your heartbeat moving through your body for a a short period of time. If you have PVCs, they'll be visible in the test. Your doctor may also decide to do a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor that records your heartbeat for longer periods of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You may also wear a portable device that can record your heart rate over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor.
Other heart tests might be required, depending on the reason for your PVCs. For example, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure, and also perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests will determine whether you have an illness such as heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also have to run an analysis of your blood to determine what is wrong with your electrolytes such as low potassium or high calcium levels. This could be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, including anemia and anxiety disorders.
You might be directed to an electrophysiologist, a specialist who specializes in treating abnormal heart rhythms. This specialist may need to conduct additional tests if you suffer from heart problems that are structural, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether your heart has been damaged and the severity of the damage. In some instances, the specialist might suggest an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying condition that's causing your PVCs.