Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs), are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not harmful and will be cured by themselves.
To diagnose PVC Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They may also order an Holter Monitor which records the electrical impulses of your heart over a span of between 24 and 48 hours. They may also request blood tests to determine the levels of electrolytes and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs occur when electrical impulses from the heart's lower chambers ventricles, or lower chambers, fail to pass through a structure known as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to delay, which can cause a feeling like fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs can occur in one pattern or repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia is three or more consecutive ones.
Some people do not experience any symptoms, but others experience heart palpitations. It can be felt as the sound of a beating heart or a slurred heartbeat. Other signs include dizziness, fatigue, or a feeling that you're unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a patient has frequent episodes, a doctor might suggest a change in the diet or lifestyle. For instance restricting caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They may also prescribe medications such as calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers which can lower the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask about the person's medical history and conduct a physical exam to check their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms for longer periods of time, or an electrocardiogram, which takes a snapshot at the electrical activity of the heart. Doctors may request blood tests in some cases to check for electrolyte imbalances or toxic effects of drugs.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor may refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm issues or an electrophysiologist to conduct a further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs are common and rarely cause any problems, except when they are frequent over a long period of time. This can cause a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiac myopathy. It is more prevalent in older adults or people suffering from heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with normal heart function, but it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. Usually, this isn't an issue that is serious however it is crucial to speak with a doctor if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many people, sporadic PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. But when you feel their heart has skipped a beat or is racing, it's crucial to speak to a doctor as soon as possible.
A cardiologist will interview you and perform an examination of your body and listen to your heart with a stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram that captures the electrical impulses of your heart to detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been identified then an portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to document the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices will assist doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the underlying cause for them, like an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicities, or other causes.
You might be required to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine if your heart health is good and to look for structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You may also undergo a stress test to check how your heart responds to exercise, as physical activity can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also have blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium and other hormones to see if they're too low. This could lead to PVCs.
After your doctor has determined that you're suffering from PVCs and has eliminated any serious illnesses, the decision of whether to treat them will be based on the degree to which they're affecting your life and the frequency at which they occur. If they occur only occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will prescribe any medication to lessen their frequency or severity.
If, however, window doctor near me suffer from frequent PVCs that cause the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, such as feeling lightheaded or like you're about to faint, your doctor might recommend medications like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Altering your lifestyle to avoid triggers, such as caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can also reduce the frequency of occurrences of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
There are people who do not experience symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may feel like "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger a fullness or pressure in the chest, and other occasions, they may make someone feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart is not pumping as effectively as normal. The frequent PVCs increase the risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition wherein the heart expands and becomes ineffective at pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry. This can be caused by the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline and alcohol consumption or caffeine. Lack of exercise can also trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excess weight.
Certain people find that a change in diet helps reduce their PVCs. They can, for example, avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause a disturbance of the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, diazole, and disodium Inosinate sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to take in more fruits and vegetables to ensure they are getting enough potassium and magnesium.
It is important to get regular health checks, which include yearly physicals and lab tests. These tests can help you identify any heart-related conditions that could be causing your PVCs. You should also not smoke and adhere to the healthy eating plan. This can increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 wards of a normal hospital showed that they were generally aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat infections caused by vascular catheters, but that their self-assessed compliance with these guidelines was low. After a feedback intervention, compliance improved on some wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that training is needed on how to implement preventive measures and those wards that are less conforming should 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 involve more training and education for personnel. It will also be necessary to ensure that the right tools to implement the preventive measures are readily available.
Signs and symptoms
If you feel like your heart is skipping beats or fluttering, it could be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless, or they could be a sign that you have heart issues that are serious.
In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't a problem, and they generally disappear by themselves. However, if you suffer from many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. Consult your doctor if you are concerned. They might need to diagnose the issue by taking a medical history and giving you an examination. They might also perform an electrocardiogram or other tests.
A short ECG test lets your doctor see the pulse of your heart going through your body over a the course of a brief period. If you have PVCs, they'll show up in the test. Your doctor might also want to perform an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat for longer durations of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, which is a portable device which records your heart rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for the heart may be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist can check your blood pressure, or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can reveal if you have a condition that is responsible for your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also need to perform tests on your blood to identify the issue with your electrolytes. For instance, you may have low potassium or high levels of calcium. This could indicate that you have PVCs or a different condition such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred to a specialist in electrophysiology, who can treat irregular heart rhythms. If you have heart disease that is structural the specialist may have to perform additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will determine if your heart is damaged and how severe it is. In some cases an expert may recommend pacemakers to treat the condition which is causing the PVCs.