Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats usually aren't hazardous, and they could disappear by themselves.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and check other vital indicators. They might recommend a Holter monitor, a device that records the electrical impulses your heart produces over 24-48 hours. They may also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs happen when electrical impulses from the lower chambers of the heart, or ventricles, misfire through a structure known as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to delay, which can cause the sensation of racing or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen in one pattern or repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia is three or more consecutive ones.
Some people have no symptoms, whereas others experience heart palpitations. It could be the sound of a beating heart or a skipping heartbeat. Other typical symptoms include fatigue, dizziness or a sensation of being unwell.
A lot of people who have occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a person has frequent episodes, doctors might suggest a change in lifestyle or diet like limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They might prescribe medication such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
Doctors will inquire about their medical history, and then perform an examination of the body to check on their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take an image of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor, which is worn for longer durations and records the heart's rhythms over time. In certain cases doctors may request blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
A pvc doctor may refer patients to an electrophysiologist or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. The doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are malignant or benign.
PVCs are fairly common and rarely cause any problems unless they occur frequently over a long time. This can cause weakening of the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common in people who are older or those suffering from some form of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however this is more likely for those who exercise regularly. It's not a serious condition, but you should tell your doctor if symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
For many people, sporadic PVCs might not cause symptoms or need no treatment. However, for those who do feel their heart has skipped an beat or is racing, it's important to see a doctor as soon as you can.
A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and performing a an examination of your body, monitoring your heart using the stethoscope to look for irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done, which will record the electrical impulses in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been detected then an portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor is required to capture the abnormal rhythm for 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 factors.
window doctors near me might be requested to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine whether your heart health is good and to look for structural issues which could lead to PVCs. You might also have a stress test to see how your heart reacts to physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also get blood tests to test your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to determine whether they're insufficient. This could cause PVCs.
After your doctor has determined that you're suffering from PVCs and has eliminated any serious illnesses, the decision on whether to treat them will be contingent on the degree to which they're affecting your life and how often they occur. If they occur only occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will suggest any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.
If, however, you suffer from frequent PVCs that trigger heart palpitations, as well as other symptoms such as feeling lightheaded or like you're about to faint, your physician may suggest medications like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, such as smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can also reduce the frequency of times you experience these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
A person might not experience any symptoms at all from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may appear as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger an increase in pressure or fullness in the chest, and at other occasions, they may cause a person to feel faint. These episodes are caused by 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 expands and becomes unable to pump blood.
PVCs often are caused by changes in body chemical chemistry. This includes the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, as well drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or weight gain or a lack of exercise, can trigger these episodes.
Certain people find that changing their diet can help reduce PVCs. They can, for example avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, diazole, and disodium inosinate sodium (E282-283). You can also consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure they're getting sufficient magnesium and potassium.
It is important to get regular health checks, including annual physicals and laboratory tests. These tests can help diagnose any heart issues that could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to not smoke and adhere to an appropriate diet program. This could increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of 14 regular hospital wards found that healthcare staff were generally aware of preventive measures to avoid the infection caused by vascular catheters, but their self-assessed conformity to these practices was low. After a feedback intervention, compliance improved on some wards but was still low. This suggests that training is required on how to implement preventive measures and that wards that are less than compliant should be targeted for infection monitoring. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely require more education and training for personnel. It is also necessary to ensure that the appropriate tools for implementing the preventive measures are available.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heartbeat to skip or flutter. These arrhythmias could be harmless, but they could indicate that you have heart issues that are serious.
In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't a problem, and they usually disappear by themselves. If you have many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakening. If you're concerned you might be experiencing dizziness or weakness, talk to your doctor about the symptoms. They might need to diagnose the issue by taking an history of your medical condition and giving you a physical exam. They may also want to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
A short ECG test allows your doctor to see 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 might also suggest the use of 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 could also carry a device that records your heart rate over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor.
Other heart tests may be required, depending 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 reveal if you have a condition that may be causing your PVCs like cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to conduct a blood test to see what is wrong with your electrolytes, for example, low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This can be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, such as anemia and anxiety disorders.
You might be referred to an electrophysiologist one of the specialists who specialize in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal. This specialist may need to conduct additional tests if you have heart conditions that cause structural damage, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can tell if you have damage to your heart and how severe it is. In some cases, the doctor may recommend an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying condition that's creating your PVCs.