Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not risky, and they may disappear by themselves.

Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They may order an Holter monitor which is a device that tracks your heart's electrical impulses over 24-48 hours. They can also request blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.

Diagnosis

PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, a structure located in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the heartbeat to be delayed which can cause the feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can occur in isolation, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the condition known as ventricular tachycardia (VT).

While some people don't have any symptoms at all, others feel palpitations, which can feel like the heart beating faster or slower. Other signs include fatigue, dizziness, or a feeling that you're unwell.

A lot of people who have occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a patient has frequent episodes, a physician might suggest a change in the diet or lifestyle. For instance restricting caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They might prescribe medications such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.

Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and perform an examination to assess their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms for longer durations or an electrocardiogram which records a snapshot of the electrical activity within the heart. Doctors may require blood tests in some cases to look for imbalances in electrolytes or drug toxicity.

Occasionally, a pvc doctor may refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm problems or an electrophysiologist for further evaluation. This window & door doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are benign or malignant.

PVCs are quite frequent and usually don't cause any problems, unless they happen frequently over a long period of time. This can cause weakening of the heart muscle or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more prevalent in older adults or people suffering from heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with normal heart function, but this is more likely for those who exercise regularly. It is not a major problem, but it is important to consult your physician if you notice symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.

Treatment

For many people, occasional PVCs might not cause symptoms or are harmless and need no treatment. But, for those who do experience a sensation like their heart has skipped a beat or is racing, it's vital to consult a physician immediately.

A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and doing an examination of your body, listening to your heart with a stethoscope for any irregular beats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done, which will record the electrical impulses in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified it is recommended to have a 24-hour Holter monitor or other portable ECG will be required to record the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the cause of them, such as an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicities, or other causes.

An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to determine whether your heart is healthy and to look for indications of structural issues that can lead to PVCs. You may also be asked to undergo stress tests to assess how your heart reacts to exercise. Exercise can increase your frequency of pvcs. You can also have blood tests to assess your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to determine if they are too low, which can contribute to the development of PVCs.

After your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs and has ruled out any serious illness, the decision on whether or not to treat them will depend on the degree to which they're affecting your life and the frequency at which they occur. If they happen only infrequently and do not cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.

However, if you have frequent PVCs that trigger the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, such as light-headedness or feeling like you're going to faint, your physician might recommend medications for you, such as 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 irregular pulses.

Prevention

A person may experience no symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can feel like "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes cause a fullness or pressure in the chest, and at other occasions, they may make someone feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart is not functioning 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 unable to pump blood.

PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemistry. This includes the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, in addition to drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or weight gain or a lack of exercise, can trigger these episodes.

Certain people find that a change in diet can reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods with preservatives, which can cause disturbances in the heart rhythm, such as disodium Guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627), and diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.

Regular health checks are crucial, including yearly physicals. These tests can help you identify any heart-related 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.

A survey of 14 typical hospital wards found that healthcare staff were generally aware of preventive measures for the infection caused by vascular catheters, but their self-assessment of compliance to these practices was low. After a feedback program that improved compliance on certain wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that training 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 additional education and training for personnel. It will also mean making sure that the correct materials are available for the implementation of the preventive measures.

Signs and symptoms

If you feel your heart is skipping beats or fluttering, it may be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be normal, or they could indicate you have serious heart problems.

In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't a problem and they usually go away on their own. But if you have several of them, they can lead to dizziness or weakness. Consult your doctor if you're concerned. You might be required to provide a medical history, and they might also perform an examination of the body to identify the issue. They might also need to perform an electrocardiogram or other tests.

A quick ECG test allows your doctor to see the signal of your heartbeat going through your body over a the course of a brief period. If you have PVCs, they will show in the test. Your doctor may also suggest to perform an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat over longer periods of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias which cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a handheld device that records your heart rhythm for 30 days.

Other tests for the heart may be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For instance an cardiologist may test your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These tests will determine whether you are suffering from an issue such as heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.

Your window & door doctor may also have to conduct a blood test to determine the problem with your electrolytes. For example, low potassium or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that may cause them, such as anemia and anxiety disorders.

You could be referred to an electrophysiologist who treats abnormal heart rhythms. If you have structural heart disease the specialist may have to conduct additional tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether your heart is damaged and how severe it is. In some instances, the specialist might recommend the use of a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying issue creating your PVCs.