Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not harmful and will disappear on their own.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital indicators. They may order a Holter monitor which is a device that records your heart's electrical impulses over the course of 24 hours. They may also order blood tests to check your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, which is a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This delay the next heartbeat which can cause a feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. 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 ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
While some people don't show any symptoms whatsoever Some experience palpitations, that can be felt as an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other common symptoms are tiredness or dizziness, or a feeling of being sick.
Many people with occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a physician might recommend a change in diet or lifestyle. For example, limiting caffeine, stress, and alcohol. They may also prescribe medications, such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers which can lower the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and perform a physical examination to determine their general health. They can also employ a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms over longer durations or an electrocardiogram which captures a picture of the electrical activity in the heart. Doctors may request blood tests in some cases to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or toxic effects of drugs.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor may refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm issues or an electrophysiologist for further evaluation. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs can be found everywhere and aren't usually harmful when used frequently or for a long period of time. This could lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most prevalent in older people, or those who have some type of heart disease. It can also occur to healthy individuals with normal, normal heart. However, it's more prevalent in people who exercise regularly. Usually, this isn't a serious concern, but it is important to speak with an expert if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful or cause symptoms in many people. They do not require treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or not making a beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will begin by conducting an interview and then perform a physical examination, and monitoring your heart using the stethoscope to look for irregular beats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram, which captures the electrical impulses of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected then a 24-hour Holter monitor or another portable ECG is required to record the irregular rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you have PVCs and the reason behind them, like an electrolyte imbalance, drug toxicity, or other factors.
You might be requested to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is good and to look for structural problems that could cause PVCs. You may also undergo an exercise test to determine how your heart reacts to exercise, since physical activity can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also get blood tests to test your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium and other hormones to determine whether they're insufficient. This could lead to PVCs.
Once your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs and has ruled out any serious illnesses and has made a decision about how to treat them will depend on the extent to which they impact your life and the frequency at which they occur. If they only occur occasionally and do not cause any symptoms then your doctor is unlikely to prescribe any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.
If you have frequent PVCs, which can cause palpitations or other symptoms such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. the glass doctor like avoiding caffeine, smoking, and excessive stress can reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
The following is a list of preventatives.
A person might not experience any symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that can be felt as "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger an increase in pressure or fullness in the chest, and other times they can cause a person to feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart isn't pumping as effectively as normal. Regular PVCs increase a person's risk of developing dilated Cardiomyopathy, a condition wherein the heart gets larger and is not able to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemistry. This includes the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or excess weight or a lack of exercise, can trigger these symptoms.
Some people have found that a change in diet helps to reduce their PVCs. They can, for example, avoid foods that contain preservatives that could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium Guanylate, diazole, and disodium inosinate Sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and vegetables to get enough magnesium.
It is important to get regular health checks, including annual physicals and lab tests. These tests can help you identify any heart-related conditions that could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to not smoke and adhere to a healthy diet plan. This can increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of 14 normal hospital wards showed that healthcare staff were generally aware of preventive measures against vascular catheter-associated infection, but their self-assessment of conformity to these guidelines was low. After a feedback program the compliance level improved on a few wards but was still low. This suggests that education is needed on how to implement preventive measures, and those wards that are less compliant need to be targeted for monitoring of infection. This information could be used to guide the implementation of further quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will most likely require additional education and training of personnel. It will also involve making sure that the correct tools are available for implementation of preventive measures.
Signs and symptoms
Involuntary ventricular contractions that are premature can cause your heart to skip beats or be fluttering. These arrhythmias may be harmless, but 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 generally disappear by themselves. If you have many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakening. If you're concerned, talk to your doctor about them. You might need to provide a medical history, and they may also conduct a physical examination in order to determine the cause. They might also need to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
A short ECG test allows your doctor to see the heartbeat signal moving through your body for a the course of a brief period. The test will reveal if you have PVCs. Your doctor may also recommend a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over a longer period of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You might also be wearing a device that can record your heart rhythm over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor.
Other heart tests might be required, based on the reason for your PVCs. For example, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure and do an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These tests can reveal the presence of a medical condition that may be causing your PVCs like mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to conduct an analysis of your blood to determine what is wrong in your electrolytes, for example, low potassium levels or high calcium levels. This can be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, such as anxiety disorders and anemia.
You may be referred to an electrophysiologist a specialist who specializes in treating irregular heart rhythms. The specialist might need to perform other tests if you have heart problems that are structural like the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will tell you if you have damage to your heart and how serious it is. In some cases an expert may recommend a pacemaker to treat the issue that is causing the PVCs.