Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats usually aren't hazardous, and they could disappear by themselves.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat, and check other vital indicators. They may order a Holter Monitor that records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a span of between 24 and 48 hours. They may also order blood tests for checking your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
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 which can cause the feeling of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can be seen in one pattern or repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Some people have no symptoms, whereas others experience heart palpitations. It could be a pounding heartbeat or a slurred heartbeat. Other symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, or feeling unwell.
Many people who have occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors might suggest a change to diet or lifestyle including a reduction in caffeine, alcohol and stress. They may prescribe beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will inquire about their medical history and perform an examination of the body to check on their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms for longer durations or an electrocardiogram which records a snapshot of the electrical activity of the heart. Doctors may request blood tests in some cases to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or toxic effects of drugs.
A pvc doctor might refer a patient to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. The doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are benign or malignant.
repairmywindowsanddoors can be found everywhere and aren't usually harmful unless they are used frequently or for a long time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiac myopathy. This is more prevalent in older adults or those suffering from heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with normal heart function, but this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. It is not a major problem, but it is important to consult your physician if you notice symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
For many people, sporadic PVCs might not cause symptoms or require no treatment. But, for those who do feel their heart has skipped the beat or is racing, it's crucial to speak to a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will start by interviewing you and doing an examination of your body, listening to your heart with an stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed to record the electrical signals in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified it is recommended to have an all-day Holter monitor or other portable ECG is required to capture the abnormal rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you have PVCs, and their cause like an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other factors.
You may be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is in good shape and to check for structural problems that could lead to PVCs. You could also have a stress test to see how your heart reacts to physical activity can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also get blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium and other hormones to see if they're too low. This could lead to PVCs.
If your doctor confirms that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled any serious illness 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 decrease their frequency or severity.
If you experience frequent PVCs that can trigger heart palpitations, or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your physician might prescribe medications like beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changing your lifestyle to stay clear of triggers, such as caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can help lower the number of instances of these irregular pulses.
Prevention
There are people who do not experience symptoms at all from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that can feel like "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger the chest to feel full or swollen in the chest, and other occasions, they may make a person feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart is not pumping as effectively as normal. Frequent PVCs increase a person's risk of developing dilated Cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart expands and is not able to pump blood.
PVCs often are caused by changes in body chemical chemistry. This includes the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones and alcohol consumption or caffeine. A lack of exercise can trigger these episodes like stress or excess weight.
Some people can find that a change in their diet helps to reduce their PVCs. They can, for example avoid foods that contain preservatives that can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, disodium Inosinate, and diazole Sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure they are getting sufficient magnesium and potassium.
Regular health checks are important and include annual physicals. These tests can help identify any heart issues that could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to an appropriate diet and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare workers on 14 wards of a normal hospital found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures to avoid vascular catheter-related infections however, their self-assessment of compliance with these measures was low. Compliance improved after a feedback intervention however it was still very lower on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that training on the best ways to implement preventive measures is necessary and that wards that are not complying should be targeted for infection surveillance. This information can be used to help in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives on these wards. This will likely involve additional education and training for personnel. It is also necessary to ensure that the right materials for implementing the preventive measures are in place.
Signs and symptoms
Involuntary ventricular contractions that are premature can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or be fluttering. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they may be an indication of serious heart problems.
In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't a problem and they generally disappear by themselves. If you've got many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. If you're concerned about them, consult your doctor about the symptoms. You might be required to provide an medical history, and they may also conduct an examination to diagnose the problem. They'll also probably want to perform 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 a short time. The test will determine if you have PVCs. Your doctor might also suggest the use of a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over a longer amount of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You might also wear a portable device that records your heart rate over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor.
Other tests for the heart may be required, based on the reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist may check your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These can help find the presence of a medical issue that could be causing your PVCs or heart valves, such as cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to conduct a blood test to see what is wrong with your electrolytes such as low potassium or high calcium levels. This could be a sign that you suffer from PVCs, or another health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You could be referred to an electrophysiologist who can treat irregular heart rhythms. If you have structural heart disease the specialist may have to perform additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine if your heart is damaged and the severity of the damage. In some cases, a specialist may recommend a pacemaker to treat the issue that causes the PVCs.