Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contracts (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are usually not dangerous and may disappear on their own.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and also check other vitals indicators. They might recommend an Holter monitor, a device that records the electrical impulses your heart produces over the course of 24 hours. They can also order blood tests to check the levels of electrolytes 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 and causes a feeling of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs may occur alone or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia is three or more consecutive ones.
Some people don't experience any symptoms whatsoever Some experience palpitations, that can be felt as the heart beating faster or slower. Other common symptoms are tiredness, dizziness or a sensation of being unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors might suggest a change to lifestyle or diet like limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They may also prescribe medication like beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers which can lower the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and perform a physical examination to check 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 time periods and monitors the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may request blood tests in some instances to check for electrolyte imbalances or toxic effects of drugs.
A pvc physician may refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs are everywhere and aren't usually harmful unless they are used regularly or for long periods of time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiac myopathy. This is most prevalent in people who are older or those with some form of heart disease. This can happen to healthy people who have normal, normal heart. However, it is more common in those who exercise regularly. Most of the time, this isn't a serious concern however it is crucial to speak with a doctor if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many, occasional PVCs might not cause symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. However, for those who do experience a sensation like their heart has skipped an beat or is racing, it's important to speak to a doctor as soon as you can.
A cardiologist will first interview you and conduct physical examinations and listen to your heart with a stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done to record the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been identified it is recommended to use the use of a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to capture the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices will help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the cause of them, like an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicities, or other causes.
An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to determine if your heart is healthy and to look for signs of 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 may also undergo blood tests to check your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to determine if they are too low and can cause the development of PVCs.
After your doctor confirms that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled any serious diseases out, the treatment option you choose will depend on how they affect your life and how frequently they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will recommend any medication to lessen their frequency or severity.
If, however, you suffer from frequent PVCs that cause heart palpitations, as well as other symptoms such as feeling lightheaded or like you're about to faint, your doctor might suggest medication, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Altering your lifestyle to avoid triggers, such as smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress, can help lower the number of instances of these unusual pulses.
The following is a list of preventions.
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations which may feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in your chest. Sometimes, these episodes cause the chest to feel full or swollen in the chest. Other times they can cause a person to feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. The frequent PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated Cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart expands and becomes ineffective at pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemical chemistry. This can be caused by the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline and alcohol consumption or caffeine. Inactivity can trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excess weight.
Certain people find that altering their diet can reduce the number of PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause a disturbance of the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and diazole, and disodium Inosinate Sodium (E282-283). They can also eat more vegetables and fruits to ensure they're getting enough magnesium and potassium.
Regular health checks are crucial, including yearly physicals. These can help diagnose any heart issues which could be causing your PVCs. You should also avoid smoking and follow a healthy diet program. This can increase your frequency of episodes.
A survey of 14 regular hospital wards revealed that healthcare staff were generally aware of preventive measures against vascular catheter-associated infection, but their self-assessment of compliance to these guidelines was low. Compliance improved following an intervention to improve feedback however, it was still low on some of the wards surveyed. This suggests that education is required on how to implement preventive measures and that 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 require additional education and training of staff. It will also involve making sure that the correct materials are in place for the implementation of the preventive measures.
Signs and symptoms
If you feel your heart is racing or fluttering, it could be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be normal, or they could be a sign that you have heart issues that are serious.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not any problem. They typically disappear by themselves. However, if you suffer from a lot of them, they could lead to dizziness or weakness. Speak to your doctor if you are concerned. They may need to determine the problem by taking an history of your medical condition and performing a physical exam. They may also conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
An ECG is a simple test that lets your health care provider see the signal from your heartbeat as it moves through your heart in the course of a brief time. If you have PVCs, they'll be visible on the test. Your doctor might also want to conduct an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor that records your heartbeat for longer durations of time. These can help differentiate PVCs from other arrhythmias which cause heart palpitations. helpful resources might also carry a 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 reason for your PVCs. For instance a cardiologist could check your blood pressure and do an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests will determine if you suffer from an illness such as heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also have to perform an analysis of your blood to determine the issue with electrolytes. For instance, a low level of potassium levels or a high level of calcium. This could be a sign that you suffer from PVCs, or another problem such as anemia, or anxiety disorders.
You might be referred to an electrophysiologist, a specialist who specializes in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal. The doctor may be required to perform other tests if you suffer from heart problems that are structural, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can tell if you have damage to your heart and how severe it is. In certain cases, a specialist might recommend an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is the cause of your PVCs.