Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are generally not dangerous and may be cured by themselves.

Doctors will monitor your heartbeat, and check other vital indicators. They may also order an Holter Monitor, which records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a time of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also order blood tests for checking your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.

Diagnosis

PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, which is a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to delay, which can cause the sensation of fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs may occur alone or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs constitute ventricular tachycardia (VT).

While some people don't show any symptoms whatsoever Others experience heart palpitations which could feel like the heart beating faster or slower. Other symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, or a feeling of being unwell.

Many people who have occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a patient is experiencing frequent episodes, a physician may recommend a change to the diet or lifestyle. For example, limiting caffeine, stress, and alcohol. They may prescribe medication such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.

Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and do a physical exam to determine their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms for longer periods of time or an electrocardiogram which captures a picture of the electrical activity of the heart. 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. This window doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.

PVCs are quite common and rarely cause any problems, unless they happen frequently over a long time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more prevalent in older adults or people suffering from heart disease. This can happen to healthy people with a normal, normal heart. However, it is more common in those who exercise regularly. This is not a serious condition, but you should consult your physician if you notice symptoms like fatigue or fainting occur.

Treatment

For many, occasional PVCs may not cause any symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. But those who do experience a sensation like your heart is lagging the beat or is racing, it's important to speak to a doctor as soon as possible.

A cardiologist will interview you and then perform a physical examination and listen to your heart using an stethoscope to identify any irregular beats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) done to record the electrical impulses in your heart and identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified then the use of a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to capture the irregular rhythm for longer periods 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, an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to assess if your heart is healthy and look for any signs of structural problems that could lead to PVCs. You may also be asked to take a stress test in order to assess how your heart reacts to exercise. Exercise can increase the frequency of pvcs. You may also undergo blood tests to assess your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to find out if they are too low and can cause the formation of PVCs.

After your doctor confirms that you have PVCs and has ruled any serious illnesses out, the treatment you choose to take depends on how they impact your life and how often they occur. If they occur only occasionally and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will suggest any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.

If you experience frequent PVCs that cause palpitations or other symptoms such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your doctor might prescribe medications like beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changes in lifestyle, such as abstaining from smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress can also decrease the frequency of these abnormal pulses.

The following is a list of preventions.

A person may experience no symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may be felt as "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes cause a fullness or pressure in the chest, and at other times, they can make a person feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. PVCs are associated with a higher risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart gets larger and in a position to not pump blood.

PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemistry. This includes the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Inactivity can trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excess weight.

Certain people find that a change in diet helps to reduce their PVCs. They can, for example avoid foods that contain preservatives which can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and disodium Inosinate, and diazole Sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits to ensure they are getting enough potassium and magnesium.

Regular health checks are essential and include annual physicals. These tests can help diagnose any heart issues that could be causing your PVCs. You should also follow an eat-healthy diet and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.

A survey of healthcare professionals on 14 normal hospital wards revealed that they were aware of the preventive measures to avoid vascular catheter-related infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these measures was low. Compliance improved following an intervention to improve feedback, but was still lower on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that education on the best ways to implement preventive measures is necessary, and that those wards which are less compliant should be targeted for infection surveillance. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely require further education and training for staff. It will also be important to ensure that the appropriate materials for implementing the preventive measures are available.

Signs and symptoms

If you feel like your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it could be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they may be an indication of serious heart problems.

In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't an issue and they usually go away on their own. If you've got a lot 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 an history of your medical condition and performing an examination. They may also want to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.

A quick ECG test lets your double glazing doctor near me see the signal of your heartbeat moving through your body over an extremely short time. The test will determine whether you have PVCs. Your doctor may also decide to conduct a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat for longer durations of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, a handheld device which keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.

Other tests for your heart might be required, depending on the reason for your PVCs. For instance, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure and do an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). This can help determine the presence of a medical condition that is the cause of your PVCs or heart valves, such as cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.

Your doctor may also be required to do a blood test to see what's wrong with your electrolytes, for example, low potassium levels or high calcium levels. 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 an expert who specializes in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal. If you suffer from structural heart disease the doctor may need to conduct additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether you've suffered damage to your heart and how serious it is. In some cases, a specialist may recommend pacemakers to treat the condition that causes the PVCs.