Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contracts (PVCs), are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not hazardous, and they could go away by themselves.

Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They may also order a Holter Monitor which records the electrical impulses of your heart over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They may also order blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.

Diagnosis

PVCs happen when electrical impulses coming from the heart's lower chambers ventricles misfire through a structure called the SA node. This causes the heartbeat to be delayed, causing a feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can occur in one pattern or repeated patterns. Doublets are PVCs that occur in a series of. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive ones.

While some people don't show any symptoms whatsoever Some experience palpitations, which can feel like a pounding or skipping heartbeat. Other typical symptoms include fatigue, dizziness or a sensation of being sick.

Many people with occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors could suggest a change to the way of life or diet including a reduction in alcohol, caffeine and stress. They can prescribe beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.

Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and conduct a physical examination to determine their general health. They may also employ an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor, which is worn for longer periods and captures the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may require blood tests in certain cases to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or toxic effects of drugs.

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

PVCs are common and don't usually cause any issues, unless they occur frequently over a long period of time. This could lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more common in people who are older, or those who have some type of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. Most of the time, this isn't a serious concern but it's important to speak with a doctor if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.

Treatment

PVCs are not harmful and do not cause any symptoms in the majority of people. They don't require treatment. But those who feel their heart has skipped a beat or is racing, it's crucial to consult a physician immediately.

A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and performing a an examination of your body, monitoring your heart using an stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. Additionally, you will have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed that records the electrical signals in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected then the use of a portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor is required to capture the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can assist doctors determine whether you have PVCs, and their cause like an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other causes.

You might be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine if your heart health is good and to look for structural problems that could lead to PVCs. You may also undergo a stress test to check how your heart reacts to exercise, as physical activity can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also have blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to see if they're too low. This could lead to PVCs.

After your doctor has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled out any serious diseases, the decision of how to treat them will depend on how much they're impacting your life and how frequently they occur. If they occur only occasionally and do not cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.

If you are experiencing frequent PVCs, which can cause palpitations or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your physician may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Altering your lifestyle to stay clear of triggers, such as caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can also reduce the frequency of times you experience these unusual pulses.

Prevention

A person may experience no symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may be felt as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause an increase in pressure or fullness in the chest. Other times, they can make a person feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. Frequent PVCs increase the risk of developing dilated Cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart enlarges and is not able to pump blood.

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

Some people can find that a change in diet can reduce their PVCs. For instance, they could avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause disturbances in the heartbeat, for example disodium Guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627), and diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to ensure that you get enough magnesium.

Regular health checks are important and include annual physicals. These tests can help you identify any heart-related conditions that could be causing your PVCs. You should also avoid smoking and follow a healthy diet program. This could increase the frequency of episodes.

A survey of 14 regular hospital wards revealed that healthcare personnel were generally aware of preventive measures for vascular catheter-associated infection, but their self-assessment of compliance to these guidelines was low. The compliance improved following feedback interventions however it was still very lower on some of the wards surveyed. This suggests that education is required to implement preventive measures and those 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 training and education for personnel. It will also mean making sure that the right materials are in place for the implementation of the preventive measures.

Signs and symptoms

If you feel your heart is racing or fluttering, it may be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they could be a sign of serious heart problems.

In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They usually disappear by themselves. If you've got many of them, it can cause dizziness or weakening. Talk to your doctor if you are worried. You may need to give a medical history, and they may also conduct an examination to identify the issue. They may also do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.

An ECG is a test that's quick that lets your health care provider detect the signal of your heartbeat moving through your heart in a short time. If you have PVCs, they will show on the test. Your doctor may also decide to conduct an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over longer periods of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You may also be wearing a device that records your heart's rhythm over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor.

Other heart tests might be required, based on the reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist can check your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can determine if you suffer from an illness such as heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.

Your windows doctor may also need to conduct a blood test to determine the issue with electrolytes. For instance, you may have low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This can be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, including anemia and anxiety disorders.

You may be referred to a specialist in electrophysiology, who treats abnormal heart rhythms. The specialist might 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 will help determine if your heart is damaged and how severe the damage is. In some cases doctors may suggest a pacemaker to treat the issue which is causing the PVCs.