Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are generally not harmful and will disappear on their own.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They may order an Holter monitor which is a device that records the electrical impulses your heart produces over 24-48 hours. They can also request blood tests to check your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that misfire through the SA node, a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the heartbeat to be delayed and causes the feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can occur in one pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the term ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, whereas others experience palpitations. It can be felt as an unsteady heartbeat or a rapid heartbeat. Other symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, or a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who have occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If window doctor is experiencing frequent episodes, a doctor may recommend a change to diet or lifestyle. For example the restriction of caffeine and stress as well as alcohol. They may prescribe beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
Doctors will ask about the patient's medical history and do a physical exam to check their general health. They can also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take an image of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor, which is worn for longer time periods and captures the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may require blood tests in some cases to look for imbalances in electrolytes or toxic effects of drugs.
Sometimes, a pvc physician will refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm problems or an electrophysiologist to conduct a further examination. The doctor can confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are benign or malignant.
PVCs are common and don't usually cause any problems unless they happen frequently over a long time. This can cause weakening of the heart muscle or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common in older people or those with some form of heart disease. It can also occur to healthy individuals with a normal, normal heart. However, it is more prevalent in people who exercise regularly. It's not an issue that is serious but it's important to tell your doctor if you experience symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
PVCs aren't harmful or cause symptoms in a lot of people. They don't require treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or skipping an entire beat, you need to see a doctor right away.
A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and performing a a physical exam, listening to your heart with a stethoscope for any irregular heartbeats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed, which will record the electrical impulses in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected, you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or another portable ECG is required to detect the abnormal rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices can help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and their causes which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other causes.
You may be requested to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine whether your heart health is in good shape and to check for structural issues that could cause PVCs. You may also be required to undergo a stress test in order to find out the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase the frequency of PVCs. You may also be able to have blood tests to assess your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to determine whether they are insufficient which could contribute to the development of PVCs.
If your doctor has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled any serious illness out, the treatment you choose to take depends on how they impact your life and how frequently they occur. If they happen only infrequently and do not cause symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any medication that will reduce their frequency or severity.
However, if you have frequent PVCs that do cause palpitations and other symptoms, such as light-headedness or feeling like you're going to faint, your doctor may suggest medications for you, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Altering your lifestyle to avoid triggers, like smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress, can aid in reducing the frequency of instances of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
A person might not experience any symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may appear as "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. These episodes can cause an feeling of pressure or fullness, or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and in a position to not pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemistry. This is due to the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. A lack of exercise can trigger these episodes, as can stress or excess weight.
Some people find that changing their diet can help reduce the number of PVCs. For instance, they could avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause a disturbance in the heart rhythm, such as disodium guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get enough magnesium.
Regular health checks are essential as are annual physicals. They can aid in identifying any heart-related conditions which could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to not smoke and adhere to the healthy eating program. This can increase your frequency of episodes.
A survey of 14 regular hospital wards revealed that healthcare workers were generally aware of preventive measures against the infection caused by vascular catheters, but their self-assessed conformity to these procedures was not high. After a feedback program that improved compliance on certain wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that training on how to implement the preventive measures is necessary and that wards which are less compliant should be targeted for infection surveillance. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely require additional education and training of personnel. It will also require making sure that the right materials are available for the implementing of the preventive measures.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heart to skip beats or be fluttering. These arrhythmias may be normal, or they could be a sign that you have heart issues that are serious.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They usually disappear by themselves. If you've got a lot of them, it can cause dizziness or weakness. Speak to your doctor if worried. You might be required to provide an medical history, and they may also conduct a physical examination in order to identify the issue. They may also want to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
An ECG is a simple test that allows your health care provider observe the signal generated by your heartbeat moving through your heart over a short time. If you have PVCs, they'll show up in the test. Your doctor may also recommend a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over a longer period of time. This can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, a portable device that records your heart rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for the heart may be required, based on the reason for your PVCs. For instance a cardiologist could check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests can determine whether you have a condition like heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also need to run a blood test to determine the problem with your electrolytes. For instance, you may have low potassium or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign that you have PVCs or another health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You could be referred to an electrophysiologist, an expert who specializes in treating irregular heart rhythms. This specialist may need to perform other tests if you are suffering from heart problems that are structural, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can determine if you have damage to your heart and how serious it is. In some cases, the doctor may recommend the use of a pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is the cause of your PVCs.