Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are generally not dangerous and can disappear on their own.

To diagnose PVC doctors listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital signs. They may order an Holter Monitor that records the electrical impulses of your heart over a period of between 24 and 48 hours. They may also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.

Diagnosis

PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that misfire through the SA node, a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the heartbeat to be delayed which can cause an experience of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can occur in isolation or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the term ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Some people do not experience any symptoms, while others experience heart palpitations. It can be felt as a pounding heartbeat or a rapid heartbeat. Other signs are dizziness, fatigue or feeling unwell.

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 like limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They may prescribe beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.

Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and perform a physical examination to check on their general health. They can also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor that is worn for longer durations and records the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may request blood tests in certain cases to check for electrolyte imbalances or toxic substances in the body.

Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer someone to a specialist for heart rhythm problems or an electrophysiologist to conduct a further examination. The doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are malignant or benign.

PVCs are everywhere and are generally not harmful when used frequently or for a long period of time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most prevalent in older people or those with any form of heart disease. It can also happen to healthy people who have normal, normal heart. However, it's more common in those who regularly exercise. It is not a major issue, but you should tell your doctor if symptoms such as fainting or fatigue occur.

Treatment

PVCs are not harmful and do not cause symptoms in a lot of people. They do not require treatment. If you notice that your heart is racing or not making a beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately.

A cardiologist will start by conducting an interview and then perform a physical examination, and listening to your heart with the stethoscope to look for irregular beats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram that captures the electrical impulses of your heart, allowing you to identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified then a 24-hour Holter monitor or a portable ECG is required to record the abnormal rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and their causes which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other factors.

You might be requested to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine whether your heart health is in good shape and to check for structural issues that could cause PVCs. You could also be required to undergo a stress test in order to determine how your heart reacts to exercise. Exercise can increase the frequency of pvcs. You can also take blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to determine if they're too low. This can lead to PVCs.

If your glass doctor near me has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs, and has ruled any serious diseases out, the treatment option you choose depends on how they impact your life and how frequently they occur. If they happen only infrequently and do not cause symptoms then your doctor is unlikely to recommend any medication to decrease their frequency or severity.

However, if you have frequent PVCs that trigger heart palpitations, as well as other symptoms like lightheadedness or feeling like you're going to faint, your doctor might suggest medication, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, such as abstaining from smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress can also decrease the frequency of these irregular pulses.

Prevention

PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, which can be described as "skipped beats" or flutters in your chest. These episodes can trigger feelings of pressure or fullness, or they can make you feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. PVCs are linked to an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart gets larger and unable to pump blood.

PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemical balance. These include the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, in addition to drinking caffeine or alcohol. Inactivity can trigger these episodes, as can stress or excessive weight.

Some people can find that a change in diet helps reduce their PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods with preservatives, which can cause a disturbance to the heartbeat, for example disodium Guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to take in more fruits and vegetables to ensure that they get sufficient magnesium and potassium.

It is crucial to undergo regular health check-ups, which include annual physicals and laboratory tests. These can help diagnose any heart-related conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. You should also follow an appropriate diet and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.

A survey of healthcare staff on 14 normal hospital wards showed that they were generally aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat vascular catheter-related infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these measures was not great. Compliance improved after an intervention to improve feedback however, it was still lower on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that training is required to implement preventive measures and those wards that are not than compliant should be targeted for infection monitoring. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. It is likely that this will require more education and training for staff. It will also be necessary to ensure that the right tools for implementing the preventive measures are in place.

Signs and symptoms

If you feel like your heart is skipping beats or fluttering, it may be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they could be a sign of serious heart issues.

In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They usually disappear by themselves. If you've got many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakening. If you're concerned about them, consult your doctor about the symptoms. They may have to identify the problem by taking a medical history and conducting a physical exam. They'll likely also need to do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.

An ECG is a quick test that lets your health care provider detect the signal of your heartbeat moving through your heart over the course of a brief period of time. If you have PVCs, they'll show up on the test. Your doctor may also suggest to perform a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat over longer periods of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You could also carry a device that records your heart rate over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor.

Other heart tests may be required, based on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can determine if you suffer from an issue such as heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, or cardiomyopathy.

Your doctor may also be required to run an analysis of your blood to determine what is wrong in your electrolytes, for example, low potassium levels or high calcium levels. This can be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, such as anxiety disorders and anemia.

You may be referred to a specialist in electrophysiology, who can treat irregular heart rhythms. If you have heart disease that is structural, this specialist might need to conduct additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will determine whether your heart has been damaged and the severity of the damage. In some cases, the doctor may recommend an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying condition that's causing your PVCs.