Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs), are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not risky, and they may disappear by themselves.
To diagnose PVC Doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital indicators. They might recommend a Holter monitor which is a device that records the electrical impulses your heart produces over the course of 24 hours. They can also order blood tests for checking your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs happen when electrical impulses coming from the lower chambers of the heart ventricles, or lower chambers, fail to pass through a structure referred to as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to delay, which can cause an experience similar to fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs can occur in one pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the condition known as ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Some people don't experience any symptoms at all, others feel palpitations, that can be felt as a pounding or skipping heartbeat. Other symptoms that are common are fatigue or dizziness, or a feeling of being unwell.
A lot of people who have occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors may suggest a change to lifestyle or diet like limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They may also prescribe medications like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask about the patient's medical history and do a physical exam to assess their general health. They can also employ a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms over longer durations or an electrocardiogram which records a snapshot of the electrical activity within the heart. Doctors may order blood tests in certain cases to look for imbalances in electrolytes or drug toxicity.
A pvc physician may refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. The doctor will confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not.
PVCs are all over the place and are not usually harmful unless they are used regularly or for a long period of time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiac myopathy. This is most common in older people or those with some type of heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. Usually, this isn't a serious concern but it's important to tell a doctor if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful or cause symptoms in many people. They don't require treatment. But, for those who do feel their heart has skipped the beat or is racing, it's crucial to see a doctor as soon as you can.
A cardiologist will start by interviewing you and doing physical examination, and listening to your heart with a stethoscope for any irregular beats. You'll also undergo an electrocardiogram that captures the electrical impulses of your heart to detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected it is recommended to have a 24-hour Holter monitor or other portable ECG will be required to capture the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you have PVCs and the reason behind them, such as an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicities, or other causes.
You may be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine if your heart health is good and to look for structural issues that could cause PVCs. You may also undergo an exercise test to determine how your heart responds to physical activity can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also have blood tests to determine your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to determine whether they are low which could contribute to the development of PVCs.
If your doctor confirms that you have PVCs and has ruled any serious illness out, the treatment option you choose is based on the impact they have on your life and the frequency they occur. If they only occur occasionally and do not cause symptoms the doctor is not likely to recommend any treatment to reduce their frequency or severity.
If you are experiencing 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. Changing your lifestyle to avoid triggers, such as caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can also aid in reducing the frequency of times you experience these irregular pulses.
The following is a list of preventions.
There are people who do not experience symptoms at all from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may appear as "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. These episodes can cause feelings of fullness or pressure, or they can make you feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as well as it should. Frequent PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated Cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart expands and is not able to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical. This includes the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, in addition to drinking caffeine or alcohol. Inactivity can also trigger these episodes like stress or excessive weight.
Certain people find that a change in diet can reduce their PVCs. They can, for instance avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, diazole, and disodium Inosinate Sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.
It is essential to have regular health checks, including annual physicals and laboratory tests. They can aid in identifying any heart issues that could be the cause of your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to an eat-healthy diet and avoid smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare workers on 14 normal hospital wards 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 measures was low. After a feedback intervention, compliance improved on some wards but was still low. This suggests that education is required on how to implement preventive measures and those wards that are not conforming should be targeted for infection monitoring. This information could be used to guide the implementation of additional quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will likely require additional education and training of staff. It is also necessary to ensure that the right materials for implementing the preventive measures are available.
Signs and symptoms
If you feel that your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it could be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they can be a sign of serious heart problems.
In healthy individuals, occasional PVCs aren't a problem, and they usually disappear by themselves. If you have many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakening. If window doctor concerned, talk to your doctor about the symptoms. They may need to determine the issue by taking an medical history and conducting an examination. They might also need to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
A quick ECG test lets your doctor see the pulse of your heart moving through your body over an extremely short time. The test will reveal if you have PVCs. Your doctor might also want to do a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor that records your heartbeat for longer periods of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, a handheld device that tracks your heart's rhythm over 30 days.
Other tests for the heart may be needed, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For instance an cardiologist may test your blood pressure, and also perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). This can help determine if you have a condition that may be the cause of your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor may also need to perform an analysis of your blood to determine the problem with electrolytes. For example, low potassium or high levels of calcium. This can be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, such as anemia and anxiety disorders.
You may be referred to an electrophysiologist who can treat irregular heart rhythms. The specialist might need to conduct additional tests if you have heart conditions that cause structural damage, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will help determine whether your heart is damaged and the severity of the damage. In some instances, the doctor may recommend a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying condition that's the cause of your PVCs.