Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are generally not harmful and will go away by themselves.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They may also order an Holter Monitor that captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a time of between 24 and 48 hours. They may also order blood tests to check your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that reverberate through the SA node, which is a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This delays the next heartbeat, causing an experience of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs may occur alone, or in repeated patterns. Doublets are PVCs that occur in a series of. Ventricular tachycardia can be described as three or more consecutive PVCs.
Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, whereas others experience heart palpitations. It can be felt as the sound of a beating heart or a slurred heartbeat. Other typical symptoms include fatigue or dizziness, or a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors could recommend a change in lifestyle or diet like limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They can also prescribe medications, such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers which can lower the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history, and then perform an examination to check on 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 within the heart. Doctors may request blood tests in certain cases to check for electrolyte imbalances or drug toxicity.
window doctors may 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 are quite frequent and usually don't cause any problems unless they occur frequently over a long period of time. This can cause weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most prevalent in people who are older, or those who have any form of heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with normal heart function, but it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. It's not a serious condition, but you should consult your physician if you notice symptoms like fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
PVCs aren't harmful or cause symptoms in a lot of people. They don't require treatment. However, for those who do feel your heart is lagging a beat or is racing, it's important to consult a physician immediately.
A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and performing a an examination of your body, listening to your heart with the stethoscope to look for irregular beats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical impulses of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been discovered, a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor is required to document the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices will help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the cause of them, such as an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicities, or other causes.
An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to assess if your heart is healthy and to look for signs of structural problems that can lead to PVCs. You might also be required to undergo an exercise test to assess the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase the frequency of PVCs. You can also take blood tests to test your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to see whether they're insufficient. This could cause PVCs.
If your doctor confirms that you have PVCs and has ruled any serious illnesses out, the treatment option you choose will depend on how they affect your life and how often they occur. If they happen only infrequently and do not cause symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to prescribe any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.
If, however, you suffer from frequent PVCs that cause palpitations and other symptoms, like lightheadedness or feeling like you're about to faint, your physician might suggest medication for you, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, like caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can also reduce the frequency of times you experience these irregular pulses.
The following is a list of preventatives.
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, that can be described as "skipped beats" or flutterings in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger the chest to feel full or swollen in the chest. Other times they can make someone feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart is not functioning as efficiently as it should. The frequent PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. a condition where the heart gets larger and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemical chemistry. This includes the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline and alcohol consumption or caffeine. Lack of exercise can trigger these symptoms and stress, as well as excessive weight.
Some people find that changing their diet can reduce PVCs. For instance, they could avoid foods with preservatives, which can cause a disturbance in the heart rhythm, such as disodium Guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) and diazole sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to get sufficient magnesium.
Regular health checks are crucial as are annual physicals. These tests can help you identify any heart issues that could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to an appropriate diet and avoid smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare workers on 14 normal hospital wards found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat vascular catheter-associated infections however, their self-assessment of compliance with these measures was poor. After a feedback program the compliance level improved on a few wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that training is required on how to implement preventive measures, and those wards that are less conforming should be targeted for monitoring of infection. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely involve more training and education for staff. It will also require making sure that the correct materials are in place for the implementation of the preventive measures.
Symptoms
Involuntary ventricular contractions that are premature can cause your heartbeat to skip or flutter. These arrhythmias aren't necessarily dangerous or they may be the sign of heart issues.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not an issue. They generally disappear by themselves. If you've got many of them, it could cause dizziness or weakness. Consult your doctor if you're concerned. You might need to provide an medical history, and they might also perform a physical examination in order to identify the issue. They'll likely also need to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A short ECG test will allow your doctor to observe the heartbeat signal moving through your body over a short period of time. If you have PVCs, they will show on the test. Your doctor may also suggest a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over a longer period of time. These can help differentiate PVCs from other types of arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You might also wear a portable device that can record your heart rate over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor.
Other tests for your heart might be required, depending 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 tests can reveal whether you suffer from a issue that could be responsible for your PVCs or heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to conduct an examination of your blood to determine what is wrong with your electrolytes for example, low potassium levels or high calcium levels. This could indicate that you suffer from PVCs, or another condition such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You might be referred to an electrophysiologist, one of the specialists who specialize in treating irregular heart rhythms. The doctor may be required to perform other tests if you suffer from heart problems that are structural like an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether your heart has been damaged and how severe the damage is. In some instances doctors may suggest a pacemaker to treat the issue which is causing the PVCs.