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Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats aren't usually risky, and they may disappear on their own.

Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and also check other vital indicators. They may order a Holter Monitor, which records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a period of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.

Diagnosis

PVCs happen when electrical impulses coming from the heart's lower chambers, or ventricles, misfire through a structure called 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 isolation or in repeated patterns. Doublets are PVCs that occur in a series of. Ventricular tachycardia can be described as three or more consecutive PVCs.

While some people don't show any symptoms at all Some experience palpitations, that can be felt as a pounding or skipping heartbeat. Other symptoms that are common are fatigue and dizziness, as well as a feeling of being sick.

Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a person has frequent episodes, doctors may recommend a change in lifestyle or diet like limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They may prescribe beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.

Doctors will inquire about the medical history of the patient and conduct a physical exam to check their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms for longer periods of time or an electrocardiogram which records a snapshot of the electrical activity of the heart. In certain instances doctors may request blood tests to look for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.

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A pvc doctor might refer a patient to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. The doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are malignant or benign.

PVCs can be found everywhere and are not usually harmful when used frequently or for long periods of time. This can cause a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most prevalent for people over the age of 65, or those who have some form of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with a normal heart, although this is more likely for those who exercise regularly. It is not a major condition, but you should inform your doctor if symptoms such as fainting or fatigue occur.

Treatment

For many people, occasional PVCs might not cause symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. If you notice that your heart is racing or skipping a beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately.

A cardiologist will begin by conducting an interview and then perform a an examination of your body, monitoring your heart using the stethoscope to look for irregular beats. You'll also undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical signals of your heart to detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected, a 24-hour Holter monitor or a portable ECG is required to capture the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you have PVCs and the reason for them, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other causes.

An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to assess if your heart is healthy and look for any signs of structural problems that can lead to PVCs. You might also have a stress test to check how your heart responds to exercise, as physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You may also undergo blood tests to assess your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to find out whether they are insufficient, which can contribute to the formation of PVCs.

Once your doctor has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs and has eliminated any serious illnesses, the decision on whether to treat them will depend 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, your doctor is unlikely to prescribe any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.

If you have frequent PVCs that cause pulses or other symptoms, like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your physician may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, like smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can reduce the frequency of instances of these abnormal pulses.

Prevention

PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, which can be described as "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. These episodes can trigger a feeling of fullness or pressure, or they can make you feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart isn't functioning as efficiently as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased risk of developing dilated cardiac myopathy. This is a condition in which the heart gets larger and is unable to pump blood.

PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemistry. These include the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or weight gain and an insufficient amount of exercise can trigger these episodes.

Certain people find that changing their diet can help reduce the number of PVCs. They can, for instance, avoid foods that contain preservatives which could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, disodium Inosinate, and diazole Sodium (E282-283). They can also consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure they're getting enough potassium and magnesium.

It is essential to have regular health checks, which include annual physicals and laboratory tests. They can aid in identifying any underlying heart conditions that could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to a healthy eating plan and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.

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Signs and symptoms

Involuntary ventricular contractions that are premature can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or flutter. These arrhythmias may be harmless, or they could indicate you have heart issues that are serious.

In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not any problem. They generally disappear on their own. If you've got many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakening. Talk to your doctor if worried. They might need to diagnose the problem by taking an medical history and conducting a physical exam. They might also perform an electrocardiogram or other tests.

A quick ECG test lets your doctor see the heartbeat signal moving through your body over a short period of time. The test will show whether you have PVCs. Your doctor may also suggest to do an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat for longer periods of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You might 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, based on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure, or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). This can help determine the presence of a medical condition that may be responsible for your PVCs, such as cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.

Your doctor may also have to run a blood test to determine the problem with your electrolytes. For example, low potassium levels or a high level of calcium. This could be a sign that you have PVCs or a different health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders.

You might be directed to an electrophysiologist, an expert who specializes in treating abnormal heart rhythms. The doctor may be required to perform other tests if you are suffering from heart problems that are structural, such as the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will help determine whether your heart is damaged and how severe it is. In some instances, the doctor may suggest an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is causing your PVCs.