Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs), are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not hazardous, and they could disappear by themselves.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and check other vital indicators. They may also order a Holter Monitor, which records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a time of 24 to 48 hours. They may also request 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, or lower chambers, fail to pass through a structure referred to as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing the sensation of the heart is fluttering or skips beats. PVCs may occur alone or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive PVCs.
While some people don't show any symptoms Some experience palpitations, which can feel like a pounding or skipping heartbeat. Other typical symptoms include fatigue and dizziness, as well as a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who have occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors could suggest a change in the way of life or diet, such as limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They may also prescribe medications, such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and do a physical exam to determine their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor, which is worn for longer durations and records the heart's rhythms over time. In certain cases doctors may request blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
A pvc doctor might refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. The doctor will confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not.
PVCs can be found everywhere and are not usually harmful when used frequently or for 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 people or those suffering from heart disease. This can happen to healthy individuals with normal, normal heart. However, it's more prevalent among those who regularly exercise. It is not a major problem, but it is important to tell 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 not making a beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist begins by conducting an interview and then perform a an examination of your body, monitoring your heart using a stethoscope for any irregular beats. You'll also undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical signals of your heart to detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found then a 24-hour Holter monitor or other portable ECG will be required to detect the irregular rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the reason for them like an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other factors.
An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to determine whether your heart is in good health and check for signs of structural problems that can lead to PVCs. window doctor may also undergo an exercise test to determine how your heart reacts to physical activity can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also get blood tests to test your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium and other hormones to determine if they're too low. This could cause PVCs.
If your doctor has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled any serious diseases out, the decision to treat them will depend on how they affect your life and how frequently they occur. If they occur only occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any treatment to reduce their frequency or severity.
If you have frequent PVCs that cause pulses or other symptoms, like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your physician might prescribe medications like beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes like avoiding caffeine, smoking, and excessive stress can also decrease the frequency of these irregular pulses.
Prevention
A person may experience no symptoms at all from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that can feel like "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. These episodes can create an feeling of pressure or fullness or make you feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as well as it should. PVCs are linked to an increased risk of developing dilated cardiac myopathy. This is a condition in which the heart gets larger and unable to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in the body's chemical. This can be caused by the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones and alcohol consumption or caffeine. Stress or excess weight or an insufficient amount of exercise can trigger these episodes.
Some people can find that a change in diet helps to reduce their PVCs. For instance, they could avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause a disturbance to 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 sufficient magnesium.
It is crucial to undergo regular health checks, which include annual physicals and lab tests. These can help diagnose any heart-related conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. Also, you should not smoke and adhere to a healthy diet plan. This can increase your frequency of episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 wards of a normal hospital revealed that they were aware of the preventive measures for vascular catheter-associated infections However, their self-assessed compliance with these practices was not great. The compliance improved following feedback interventions however, it was still low on some of the observed wards. This suggests that education is required on how to implement preventive measures and those wards that are less compliant need to be targeted for infection monitoring. This information could be used to guide the implementation of further quality improvement initiatives on these wards. This will likely require additional training and education for staff. It will also be important to ensure that the right tools for implementing the preventive measures are available.
Symptoms
If you feel that your heart is skipping beats or fluttering, it could be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be normal, or they could be a sign that you have serious heart problems.
In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't a problem, and they generally disappear on their own. However, if you suffer from several of them, they may cause dizziness or weakness. If you're concerned about them, consult your doctor about them. They may need to determine the issue by taking a medical history and giving you a physical exam. They might also conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
An ECG is a quick test that will allow your doctor to detect the signal of your heartbeat moving through your heart in a short time. The test will reveal if you have PVCs. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat for a longer period of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, a portable device which records your heart rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for your heart might be required, based on the cause of your PVCs. For example, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure, and also perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These can help find whether you suffer from a issue that could be causing your PVCs like mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to conduct a blood test to see what the problem is with your electrolytes, like low potassium or high calcium levels. This could be a sign that you have PVCs or a different health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred to a specialist in electrophysiology, who treats abnormal heart rhythms. If you suffer from structural heart disease, this specialist might need to conduct additional tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will help determine whether your heart has been damaged and the severity of the damage. In some cases, the doctor might suggest a pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is causing your PVCs.