Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats usually aren't risky, and they may disappear on their own.
To diagnose PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat and check other vital indicators. They may order an Holter Monitor that records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a period of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses from the lower chambers of the heart ventricles misfire through a structure called the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing a feeling like racing or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen as a single event, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the term ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people don't experience any symptoms at all, others feel palpitations, which can feel like an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other typical symptoms include fatigue, dizziness or a sensation of being sick.
Many people who have occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors may suggest a change in the way of life or diet, such as limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They may also prescribe medications like calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask about the medical history of the patient and conduct a physical exam to determine their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take an image of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor that is worn for longer time periods and captures the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may request blood tests in some instances to look for imbalances in electrolytes or drug toxicity.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor may refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm problems, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. This specialist can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
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 common in older adults or those suffering from heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with a normal heart, although it is more likely to occur in 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
PVCs aren't harmful or cause symptoms in a lot of people. They do not require treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or slurring a beat, it's best to see a doctor right away.
A cardiologist begins by conducting an interview and then perform a physical examination, and monitoring your heart using an stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed, which will record the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found then you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or other portable ECG will be needed to record the irregular rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the cause of them, like an electrolyte imbalance, drug toxicities, or other causes.
You might be required to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine whether your heart health is in good order and to look for structural issues that could cause PVCs. You might also have a stress test to check how your heart reacts to physical exercise can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You may also undergo blood tests to determine your thyroid, potassium, and magnesium hormone levels to find out whether they are low which could contribute to the development of PVCs.
After your doctor has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs and has eliminated any serious diseases, the decision of whether or not to treat them will be based on the extent to which they impact your life and how often they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will prescribe any medication to lessen 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 recommend medications for you, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changes in lifestyle, like cutting down on smoking, caffeine and stress, can also decrease the frequency of these irregular pulses.
The following is a list of preventatives.
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, which can feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes cause a fullness or pressure in the chest, and at other times, they can make a person feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart is not pumping as efficiently as it normally does. PVCs are linked to an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and unable to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry. They can be caused by the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or excess weight, as well as an insufficient amount of exercise can trigger these episodes.
Some people can find that a change in their diet can reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can, avoid foods that contain preservatives that can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, diazole, and disodium inosinate Sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and vegetables to get enough magnesium.
Regular health checks are essential, including yearly physicals. They can aid in identifying any underlying heart conditions that could be causing 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 workers on 14 wards of a normal hospital found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat infections caused by vascular catheters however, their self-assessment of compliance with these guidelines was low. After a feedback intervention, compliance improved on some areas, but was still very low. This suggests that education is required on how to implement preventive measures and those wards that are not compliant need to be targeted for monitoring of infection. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This could involve further education and training for personnel. It will also be necessary to ensure that the correct tools to implement the preventive measures are readily available.
Symptoms
Involuntary ventricular contractions that are premature can cause your heart to skip beats or to flutter. These arrhythmias aren't necessarily dangerous or they can be an indication of serious heart problems.
In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They generally disappear by themselves. If you're suffering from many of them, they can cause weakness or dizziness. If you're worried about them, consult your doctor about them. You might be required to provide an medical history, and they may also conduct an examination to identify the issue. They may also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A short ECG test allows your doctor to see the pulse of your heart going through your body over a a short period of time. The test will determine whether you have PVCs. Your doctor may also suggest a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over a longer amount of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You could also carry a device that records your heart rate over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor.
Other tests for the heart may 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 can help find whether you suffer from a condition that may be causing your PVCs, such as cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor may also need to perform an analysis of your blood to determine the issue with your electrolytes. For instance, a low level of potassium levels or high levels of calcium. the window doctor could indicate that you suffer from PVCs, or another health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You might be directed to an electrophysiologist, a specialist who specializes in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal. The specialist might need to conduct other tests if you have heart problems that are structural, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will help determine whether your heart has been damaged and how severe it is. In some instances, the specialist might recommend a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying issue causing your PVCs.