Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are typically not dangerous and can go away by themselves.
To diagnose PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital signs. They might recommend a Holter monitor which records the electrical impulses your heart produces over the course of 24 hours. They can also order blood tests to assess your thyroid and electrolyte levels. hormones.
repairmywindowsanddoors are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, which is a structure in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to a feeling like fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs can occur in isolation, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the term ventricular tachycardia (VT).
While some people don't show any symptoms Others experience heart palpitations which can feel like the heart beating faster or slower. Other symptoms are dizziness, fatigue or a feeling that you're unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a person has frequent episodes, doctors could suggest a change in the way of life or diet including a reduction in alcohol, caffeine and stress. They may also prescribe medication, such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers which can lower the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and conduct a physical exam to check their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms over a longer period of time or an electrocardiogram which records a snapshot of the electrical activity of the heart. Doctors may require 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 evaluation. This doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are malignant or benign.
PVCs are common and rarely cause any problems, except when they are frequent over a long period of time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more common in older people or those with heart disease. It can also occur to healthy individuals with normal, normal hearts. However, it is more common in those who regularly exercise. It's not a serious issue, but you should tell your doctor if symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
For many, occasional PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or require no treatment. If you notice that your heart is racing or skipping the beat, it's best to see a doctor right away.
A cardiologist will begin by interviewing you and doing an examination of your body, monitoring your heart using the stethoscope to look for irregular heartbeats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed to record the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected, you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or another portable ECG will be needed to capture the irregular rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices will help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and their causes, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other factors.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to assess whether your heart is healthy and look for any signs of structural problems that could lead to PVCs. You could also be required to undergo stress tests to find out the response of your heart to exercise. Physical activity can increase your frequency of PVCs. You can also have blood tests to determine your thyroid, potassium, and magnesium hormone levels to find out if they are too low, which can contribute to the development of PVCs.
After your doctor has determined that you have PVCs and has ruled out any serious diseases, the decision on whether or not to treat them will be based on the extent to which they impact your life and how frequently they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will prescribe any medication to lessen their frequency or severity.
If you have frequent PVCs that cause pulses or other symptoms, such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medication such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, like smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress, can reduce the frequency of occurrences of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
A person may experience no symptoms at all from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may appear as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger a fullness or pressure in the chest. Other times they can make someone feel faint. These episodes happen because the heart is not functioning as efficiently as it should. PVCs are linked to an increased chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart gets larger and in a position to not pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemistry. They can be caused by the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Inactivity can also trigger these episodes like stress or excess weight.
Certain people find that a change in their diet can reduce their PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause a disturbance to the heart rhythm, such as disodium guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). You can also consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure that they get sufficient magnesium and potassium.
It is crucial to undergo regular health check-ups, which include annual physicals and lab tests. They can aid in identifying any heart-related conditions which could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to refrain from smoking and adhere to an appropriate diet program. This can increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 normal hospital wards showed that they were generally aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat vascular catheter-related infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these measures was poor. After a feedback program the compliance level improved on a few wards but was still low. This suggests that training on how to implement preventive measures is necessary and that areas that are not as well-adjusted should be targeted for surveillance of infection. This information could be used to help in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives on these wards. This will likely require additional education and training for staff. It is also necessary to ensure that the right tools for implementing the preventive measures are readily available.
Signs and symptoms
If you feel your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it could be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias aren't necessarily dangerous or they can be a sign of serious heart problems.
In healthy individuals, occasional PVCs aren't a problem and they usually disappear on their own. If you're suffering from many of them, they could cause weakness or dizziness. Talk to your doctor if concerned. You might need to provide your medical history and they might also perform an examination of the body to identify the issue. They might also need to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
A quick ECG test will allow your doctor to observe the pulse of your heart going through your body over a an extremely short time. If you have PVCs, they'll show up in the test. Your doctor may also suggest the use of a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over a longer amount of time. These can help differentiate PVCs from other types of arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, a handheld device that records your heart rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for your heart might be required, depending on the reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist can check your blood pressure or conduct an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can reveal whether you suffer from a condition that is responsible for your PVCs like mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor may also be required to do an examination of your blood to determine what's wrong in your electrolytes, like low potassium or high levels of calcium. This could be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, such as anxiety disorders and anemia.
You may be referred an electrophysiologist who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. This specialist may need to conduct additional tests if you are suffering from heart conditions that cause structural damage like the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will help determine whether your heart has been damaged and the severity of the damage. In some cases, the doctor might suggest an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is causing your PVCs.