Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are typically not dangerous and may go away by themselves.

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 between 24 and 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to check the levels of electrolytes and thyroid hormones.

Diagnosis

PVCs are caused by electrical impulses from the lower chambers of the heart, or ventricles, misfire through a structure referred to as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing an experience similar to fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen in one pattern or repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, while three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the condition known as ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Some people don't experience any symptoms at all Others experience heart palpitations which can feel like an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other common symptoms are tiredness, dizziness or a sensation of being sick.

Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a physician might recommend a change in diet or lifestyle. For instance, limiting caffeine and stress as well as alcohol. They may also prescribe medication like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers which can lower the heart rate and lower blood pressure.

Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history, and then perform an examination of the body to determine their general health. They can also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor that is worn for longer periods and records the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may require blood tests in some cases to look for imbalances in electrolytes or toxic substances in the body.

A pvc doctor might refer a patient to an electrophysiologist or specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. This specialist can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not.

PVCs are common and rarely cause any issues, unless they occur frequently over a long period of time. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/window-doctor-folkestone/ can cause weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more common in people who are older or those with some type of heart disease. It can also occur to healthy people with a normal, normal heart. However, it is more prevalent in people who regularly exercise. It's not a serious problem, but it is important to tell your doctor if symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.

Treatment

For many, occasional PVCs may not cause any symptoms or are harmless and need no treatment. However those who feel their heart has skipped a beat or is racing, it's vital to consult a physician as soon as possible.

A cardiologist will start by interviewing you and doing a physical exam, monitoring your heart using a stethoscope for any irregular heartbeats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed that records the electrical impulses in your heart and identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected then an all-day Holter monitor or another portable ECG is required to capture the irregular rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you have PVCs and their causes like an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other causes.

An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to determine if your heart is healthy and to look for indications of structural issues that can lead to PVCs. You might also be asked to take an exercise test to find out the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase the frequency of PVCs. You can also have blood tests to test your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to see whether they're low. This can lead to PVCs.

Once your doctor has confirmed that you're suffering from PVCs and has ruled out any serious diseases and has made a decision about whether or not to treat them will be based on the degree to which they're affecting your life and the frequency at which they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any medication that can reduce their frequency or severity.

If you have frequent PVCs, which can cause pulses or other symptoms, such as feeling light-headed 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 reduce the frequency of instances of these unusual pulses.

Prevention

PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, which can be described as "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger a fullness or pressure in the chest, and at other occasions, they may make someone feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart isn't pumping as efficiently as it normally does. PVCs are linked to an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart gets larger and is unable to pump blood.

PVCs often are caused by changes in body chemical balance. This includes the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Inactivity can trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excessive weight.

Certain people find that altering their diet may help to reduce PVCs. They can, for instance avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause a disturbance of the heart rhythm. These include disodium Guanylate, diazole, and disodium inosinate sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.

Regular health checks are essential, including yearly physicals. These tests can help identify any heart-related conditions which could be causing your PVCs. You should also follow an eat-healthy diet and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.

A survey of 14 normal hospital wards found that healthcare staff were generally aware of preventive measures for the infection caused by vascular catheters, but their self-assessment of conformity to these procedures was not high. Compliance improved after feedback interventions however it was still very lower on some of the observed wards. This suggests that education on the best ways to implement preventive measures is essential and that the areas that are not as well-adjusted should be targeted for infection surveillance. 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 will also be necessary to ensure that the appropriate tools to implement the preventive measures are available.

Signs and symptoms

If you feel like your heart is skipping beats or fluttering, it could be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they may be the sign of heart problems.

In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't a problem, and they usually go away on their own. But if you have a lot of them, they may cause weakness or dizziness. If you're worried about them, consult your doctor about them. They may need to determine the issue by taking a medical history and giving you a physical exam. They might also conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.

An ECG is a test that's quick that lets your health care provider observe the signal generated by your heartbeat as it travels through your heart over the course of a brief duration. The test will show if you have PVCs. Your doctor may also decide to conduct a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat over longer periods of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, a portable device that tracks your heart's rhythm over 30 days.

Other heart tests might be required, depending on the reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist can check your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can tell whether you have an illness such as heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.

Your doctor might also need to do an examination of your blood to determine what the problem is with your electrolytes such as low potassium or high calcium levels. This could be a sign that you have PVCs or another problem such as anemia, or anxiety disorders.

You may be referred to a specialist in electrophysiology, who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. The doctor may be required to conduct additional tests if you have heart conditions that cause structural damage like the 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, a specialist may recommend a pacemaker to treat the issue that causes the PVCs.