Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are typically not harmful and will disappear on their own.
To determine PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They may also order a Holter Monitor that records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They may also request blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses from the lower chambers of the heart, or ventricles, misfire through a structure called the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to the sensation of racing or skipped beats. PVCs can occur in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs constitute ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Some people don't experience any symptoms at all Others experience heart palpitations which can feel like a pounding or skipping heartbeat. Other signs include fatigue, dizziness, or a feeling that you're unwell.
window doctors near me who experience occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors might recommend a change in lifestyle or diet like limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They can prescribe beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
Doctors will inquire about the patient's medical history and conduct a physical exam to determine their general health. They may also employ an electrocardiogram (ECG) to get an image of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor which is worn for longer periods and monitors the heart's rhythms over time. In certain instances doctors may request blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
A pvc doctor might refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. The doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are malignant or benign.
PVCs can be found everywhere and aren't usually harmful when used frequently or for long periods of time. This can cause weakening of the heart muscle or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common for people over the age of 65 or those suffering from some type of heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with a normal heart, although it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. Most of the time, this isn't a serious concern but it's important to tell a doctor if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many people, occasional PVCs might not cause symptoms or need no treatment. However, for those who do experience a sensation like their heart has skipped an beat or is racing, it's important to consult a physician as soon as you can.
A cardiologist will then interview you and conduct physical examinations, listening to your heart through a stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) done, which will record the electrical impulses in your heart and identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found then an all-day Holter monitor or a portable ECG will be needed to capture the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you have PVCs and the reason for them 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 problems that could cause PVCs. You might also have a stress test to see how your heart responds to exercise, since physical exercise can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also have blood tests to check your thyroid, potassium, and magnesium hormone levels to find out whether they are insufficient which could contribute to the formation of PVCs.
Once your doctor has confirmed that you're suffering from PVCs and has ruled out any serious illness, the decision on whether or not to treat them will be contingent on how much they're impacting your life and how frequently they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will recommend any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.
If you experience frequent PVCs, which can cause heart palpitations, or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, like smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can also aid in reducing the frequency of occurrences of these irregular pulses.
Prevention
A person might not experience any symptoms at all from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that can feel like "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause the chest to feel full or swollen in the chest, and at other occasions, they may make a person feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. The frequent PVCs increase the risk of developing dilated Cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart enlarges and is not able to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical chemistry. This is due to the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. Lack of exercise can also trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excessive weight.
Certain people find that altering their diet may help to reduce the number of PVCs. They can, for instance avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which can cause a disturbance of the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and diazole, and disodium Inosinate sodium (E282-283). You can also consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure they're getting sufficient magnesium and potassium.
Regular health checks are crucial and include annual physicals. These tests can help identify any heart issues which could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to avoid smoking and follow a healthy diet program. This could increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of healthcare workers on 14 normal hospital wards showed that they were generally aware of the preventive measures for vascular catheter-related infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these guidelines was low. The compliance improved following feedback interventions, but was still low on some of the wards surveyed. This suggests that training is required to implement preventive measures and that wards that are less conforming should be targeted for infection monitoring. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This could involve additional training and education for staff. It will also require making sure that the right tools are available for implementation of preventive measures.
Symptoms
Involuntary ventricular contractions that are premature can cause your heartbeat to skip or be fluttering. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they can be the sign of heart issues.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not an issue. They typically disappear on their own. If you have many of them, it can cause dizziness or weakness. If you're worried about them, consult your doctor about them. You may need to give a medical history, and they might also perform an examination to determine the cause. They'll also probably want to do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
An ECG is a test that's quick that allows your health care provider observe the signal generated by your heartbeat as it moves through your heart for an extremely short period of period of time. If you have PVCs, they will show in the test. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat for a longer period of time. These can help differentiate PVCs from other arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You might also wear a portable device that records your heart rhythm over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor.
Other tests for your heart might be needed, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For instance an cardiologist may test your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests can tell whether you are suffering from an issue like heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor might also need to do a blood test to see what is wrong in your electrolytes, such as low potassium or high calcium levels. This could be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, like anemia and anxiety disorders.
You could be directed to an electrophysiologist, a specialist who specializes in treating abnormal heart rhythms. The doctor may be required to conduct other tests if you are suffering from heart problems that are structural, such as the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can tell whether you've damaged your heart and how serious it is. In some instances, the specialist might suggest an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying issue causing your PVCs.