Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not dangerous, and they can disappear by themselves.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat and also check other vitals signs. They may order an Holter Monitor that captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a span of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, which is a structure located in the lower chambers of the heart. This delay the next heartbeat, causing an experience of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can be seen in one pattern or repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the term ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Some people do not experience any symptoms, but others experience heart palpitations. It can be felt as a pounding heartbeat or a slurred heartbeat. Other common symptoms are tiredness or dizziness, or a feeling of being unwell.
A lot of people who have occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a person has frequent episodes, doctors may suggest a change to the way of life or diet, such as limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They might prescribe medication such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will inquire about their medical history, and then perform an examination to check on their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms over longer durations or an electrocardiogram which captures a picture of the electrical activity within the heart. Doctors may require blood tests in certain cases to check for electrolyte imbalances or toxic effects of drugs.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer someone to a specialist in heart rhythm issues, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs are all over the place and aren't usually harmful unless they are used regularly or for a long time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiac myopathy. This is most prevalent for people over the age of 65 or those with some form of heart disease. It can also happen to healthy people who have normal, normal hearts. However, it is more prevalent in people who exercise regularly. It is not a major issue, but you should tell your doctor if symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful and do not cause symptoms in many people. They don't require treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or not making a beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will begin by interviewing you and doing physical examination, and listening to your heart with a stethoscope for any irregular heartbeats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) done, which will record the electrical signals in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found, you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or a portable ECG is required to capture the irregular rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the reason for them, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other factors.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to determine whether your heart is healthy and check for signs of structural problems that can lead to PVCs. You could also have a stress test to see how your heart responds to physical activity can increase the frequency of your PVCs. repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk may also be able to have blood tests to assess your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to find out whether they are low, which can contribute to the development of PVCs.
After your doctor confirms that you have PVCs and has ruled any serious diseases out, the treatment you choose to take is based on the impact they have on your life and how often they occur. If they only occur occasionally and do not cause symptoms then your doctor is unlikely to prescribe any medication to decrease their frequency or severity.
If, however, you suffer from frequent PVCs that trigger the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, such as feeling lightheaded or like you're about to faint, your doctor may suggest medications like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changes in lifestyle, such as abstaining from smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress can also reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
The following is a list with preventions.
A person may experience no symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can be felt as "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger the chest to feel full or swollen in the chest, and other times, they can make a person feel faint. These episodes happen because the heart is not pumping as effectively as normal. PVCs are associated with an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged 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 adrenaline and thyroid hormones, and drinking caffeine or alcohol. Inactivity can also trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excessive weight.
Certain people find that altering their diet can help reduce the amount of PVCs. They can, for example avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which can cause a disturbance of the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and disodium Inosinate, and diazole sodium (E282-283). They can also take in more fruits and vegetables to ensure they're getting enough magnesium and potassium.
Regular health checks are crucial and include annual physicals. They can aid in identifying any heart-related conditions that could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to a healthy eating plan and refrain from smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 normal hospital wards found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat vascular catheter-related infections However, their self-assessed compliance with these measures was poor. After a feedback program the compliance level improved on a few areas, but was still very low. This suggests that education on how to implement the preventive measures is necessary, and that those wards which are less compliant should be targeted for infection surveillance. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This could involve more education and training for personnel. It will also involve making sure that the appropriate tools are available for implementation of preventive measures.
Signs and symptoms
If you feel like your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it may be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless, but they could indicate that you have serious heart problems.
In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't a problem and they usually disappear by themselves. If you've got a lot of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. If you're worried about them, consult your doctor about them. They may need to determine the issue by taking an history of your medical condition and conducting an examination. They might also need to perform an electrocardiogram or other tests.
An ECG is a simple test that allows your health care provider observe the signal generated by your heartbeat moving through your heart over the course of a brief time. If you have PVCs, they will show on the test. Your doctor might also want to conduct an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat for longer durations of time. These can help differentiate PVCs from other types of arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You could also be wearing a device that records your heart rate over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor.
Other heart tests might be required, depending on the reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). This can help determine if you have a issue that could be the cause of your PVCs or heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to do an examination of your blood to determine what's wrong in your electrolytes, for example, low potassium levels or high calcium levels. This could be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that may cause them, including anemia and anxiety disorders.
You could be referred to an electrophysiologist who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. If you have heart disease that is structural the doctor may need to do other tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether you've damaged your heart and how severe it is. In some instances doctors may suggest pacemakers to treat the condition that is causing the PVCs.