Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats aren't usually hazardous, and they could go away on their own.

Doctors will monitor your heartbeat and look for other vital indicators. They may order an Holter Monitor, which captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a time of 24 to 48 hours. They may also order blood tests for checking your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.

Diagnosis

PVCs happen when electrical impulses coming from the heart's lower chambers, or ventricles, misfire through a structure known as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to delay, which can cause the sensation of the heart is fluttering or skips beats. PVCs can occur in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia is three or more consecutive PVCs.

While some people don't have any symptoms, others feel palpitations, that can be felt as an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. 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 someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors could suggest a change to the way of life or diet like limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They may also prescribe medications such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure.

Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history, and then perform a physical examination to assess their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms over longer durations, or an electrocardiogram, which takes a snapshot at the electrical activity within the heart. Doctors may order blood tests in certain cases to look for imbalances in electrolytes or toxic substances in the body.

Occasionally, a pvc doctor may refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm problems or an electrophysiologist to conduct a further examination. This doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or malignant.

PVCs can be found everywhere and are generally not harmful unless they are used frequently or for a long period of time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common for people over the age of 65, or those who have some form of heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. It's not a serious issue, but you should tell your bifold doctor if symptoms like fatigue or fainting occur.

Treatment

PVCs are not harmful or cause symptoms in a lot of people. They don't require treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or skipping a beat, it's best to seek out a physician immediately.

A cardiologist begins by conducting an interview and then perform a physical examination, and listening to your heart with an stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical signals of your heart to detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is discovered then a portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to document the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the underlying cause for them, like an electrolyte imbalance, drug toxicities, or other causes.

An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to determine if your heart is healthy and check for signs of structural problems that can lead to PVCs. You might also be asked to undergo a stress test in order to find out the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase your frequency of PVCs. You can also have blood tests to check your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to determine whether they're low. This could cause PVCs.

After your glazing doctor has determined that you suffer from PVCs and has eliminated any serious diseases, the decision on whether to treat them will depend on the extent to which they impact your life and how often they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will recommend any medication to reduce the frequency or severity of them.

However, if you have frequent PVCs that do cause the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, such as light-headedness or feeling like you're going to faint, your physician might suggest medication, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changes in lifestyle, such as abstaining from smoking, caffeine and stress levels that are excessive can reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.

The following is a list of preventatives.

PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, that can feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in your chest. Sometimes, these episodes cause a fullness or pressure in the chest, and other occasions, they may cause a person to feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart isn't functioning as efficiently as it should. Regular PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart enlarges and is not able to pump blood.

PVCs are usually caused by changes in the body's chemical. This is due to the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones and alcohol consumption or caffeine. Stress or excess weight or a lack of exercise, can trigger these episodes.

Some people can find that a change in their diet helps reduce their PVCs. They can, for instance avoid foods that contain preservatives which could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and diazole, and disodium Inosinate Sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to get enough magnesium.

Regular health checks are crucial as are annual physicals. These tests can help you identify any heart conditions that may be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to not smoke and adhere to an appropriate diet plan. This can increase your frequency of episodes.

A survey of 14 typical hospital wards showed that healthcare staff were generally aware of preventive measures for infections caused by vascular catheters, however their self-assessment of conformity to these procedures was not high. After a feedback intervention, compliance improved on some wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that education on how to implement preventive measures is necessary and that the areas that are not as well-adjusted should be targeted for infection surveillance. This information can then be used to guide the implementation of further quality improvement initiatives on these wards. This will likely require additional education and training of staff. It will also require making sure that the correct materials are in place for the implementation of preventive measures.

Symptoms

If you feel that your heart is skipping beats or fluttering, it may be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they may be the sign of heart problems.

In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They generally disappear by themselves. If you're suffering from a lot of them, they may cause dizziness or weakness. Consult your glazing doctor if concerned. They may have to identify the problem by taking an history of your medical condition and conducting an examination. They might also need to conduct an electrocardiogram or other tests.

A quick ECG test lets your door doctor see the pulse of your heart going through your body over a a short period of time. If you have PVCs, they will show on the test. Your doctor may also suggest to do a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat over longer periods of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other types of arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, a portable device that keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.

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

Your doctor may also have to perform tests on your blood to identify the problem with electrolytes. For example, low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign that you have PVCs, or another problem such as anemia, or anxiety disorders.

You may be referred an electrophysiologist who treats abnormal heart rhythms. This specialist may need to conduct other tests if you are suffering from heart problems that are structural, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether your heart has been damaged and how severe it is. In some cases an expert may recommend a pacemaker to treat the condition that causes the PVCs.