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Why It's Important to See a Doctor Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are generally not harmful and will disappear on their own. To determine PVC doctors listen to your heartbeat and check other vital signs. They may order a Holter monitor which records the electrical impulses your heart produces over 24-48 hours. They may also request blood tests to check the levels of electrolytes and thyroid hormones. Diagnosis PVCs are caused by electrical impulses coming from the lower chambers of the heart ventricles misfire through a structure referred to as the SA node. This delays the next heartbeat, causing a feeling of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can occur in isolation or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive PVCs. Some people do not experience any symptoms, whereas others experience palpitations. It could be an unsteady heartbeat or a rapid heartbeat. Other symptoms that are common are fatigue, dizziness or a sensation of being unwell. Many people with occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a doctor might suggest a change in the diet or lifestyle. For example the restriction of caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They may prescribe beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate. A pvc doctor may refer a patient to an electrophysiologist or specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are benign or malignant. PVCs are fairly common and rarely cause any problems, unless they occur frequently over a long period of time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more prevalent in older adults or those with heart disease. It can also occur to healthy people with normal, normal heart. However, it is more prevalent among those who regularly exercise. This is not a serious condition, but you should consult your physician if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue occur. Treatment For many people, sporadic PVCs may not cause any symptoms or need no treatment. But when you do experience a sensation like their heart has skipped a beat or is racing, it's crucial to consult a physician as soon as possible.
A cardiologist will start by conducting an interview and then perform a a physical exam, listening to your heart with the stethoscope to look for irregular beats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram, which captures the electrical impulses of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected then you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or a portable ECG will be required to capture the abnormal rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices can assist doctors determine whether you have PVCs, and their cause like an imbalance in electrolytes, toxic drugs or other factors. You may be required 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 exercise, as physical exercise can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also have blood tests to assess your thyroid, potassium, and magnesium hormone levels to find out whether they are low, which can contribute to the development of PVCs. Once your doctor has confirmed that you're suffering from PVCs and has eliminated any serious diseases, the decision of whether or not to treat them will depend on how much they're impacting your life and the frequency at which they occur. If they occur only occasionally and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will prescribe any medication to reduce their frequency or severity. If you have frequent PVCs that cause heart palpitations, or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your physician might prescribe medications like beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changes in lifestyle, such as cutting down on smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress can reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses. The following is a list of preventions. There are people who do not experience symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can feel like "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes cause the chest to feel full or swollen in the chest, and other times, they can make someone feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. PVCs are linked to an increased chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and is unable to pump blood. PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical balance. This includes the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. A lack of exercise can also trigger these episodes, as can stress or excess weight. Some people can find that a change in diet can reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods that contain preservatives that can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium Guanylate, disodium Inosinate, and diazole Sodium (E282-283). They can also take in more fruits and vegetables to ensure they are getting enough potassium and magnesium. It is essential to have regular health checks, including yearly physicals and lab tests. They can aid in identifying any heart-related conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to an eat-healthy diet and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes. A survey of healthcare professionals on 14 wards of a normal hospital revealed that they were aware of the preventive measures for vascular catheter-associated infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these measures was not great. Compliance improved after feedback interventions however, it was still low on a few of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that training is required to implement preventive measures, and those wards that are not than compliant should be targeted for monitoring of infection. This information can then be used to guide the implementation of additional quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This could involve more education and training for personnel. It will also mean making sure that the correct materials are available for the implementation of preventive measures. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or to flutter. These arrhythmias can be harmless, but they could indicate you are suffering from serious heart issues. In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not any problem. They usually disappear on their own. If you've got a lot of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned. They might need to diagnose the problem by taking a medical history and performing 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 see the signal from your heartbeat moving through your heart for a short duration. The test will determine whether you have PVCs. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over a longer amount of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You might also wear a portable device that records your heart rhythm over 30 days, called an event monitor. Other tests for your heart might be required, based on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can determine whether you are suffering from an illness such as heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, or cardiomyopathy. Your doctor might also need to run a blood test to see what the problem is in your electrolytes, for example, low potassium levels or high calcium levels. This can be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that may cause them, including anxiety disorders and anemia. You could be directed to an electrophysiologist, a specialist who specializes in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal. The specialist might need to conduct additional tests if you have heart problems that are structural like the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will tell you whether you've damaged your heart and how severe it is. In certain cases, a specialist may recommend an implanted pacemaker to treat the condition that causes the PVCs. |
