Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are generally not dangerous and can go away by themselves.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vitals indicators. They might order a Holter monitor, a device that records the electrical impulses your heart produces over 24-48 hours. They might also order blood tests to check the levels of electrolytes and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs happen when electrical impulses coming from the lower chambers of the heart, or ventricles, misfire through a structure called the SA node. This delays the next heartbeat which can cause an experience of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can be seen in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the condition known as ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, whereas others experience palpitations. This can feel like the sound of a beating heart or a rapid heartbeat. Other common symptoms are tiredness or dizziness, or a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a person has frequent episodes, doctors might suggest a change to diet or lifestyle, such as limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They can also prescribe medications such as calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history, and then perform an examination to check on their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor, which is worn for longer periods and records the heart's rhythms over time. In some cases, doctors may order blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
A pvc doctor might refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. The doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are malignant or benign.
PVCs are fairly common and rarely cause any problems unless they happen frequently over a long period of time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common in people who are older, or those who have some form of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with a normal heart, although it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. Most of the time, this isn't a serious concern but it's important to tell an expert if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many people, occasional PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or need no treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or not making the beat, it's best to seek out a physician immediately.
A cardiologist will then interview you and then perform a physical examination, listening to your heart using the stethoscope in order to detect any irregular heartbeats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed that records the electrical signals in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified it is recommended to have a 24-hour Holter monitor or a portable ECG is required to detect the irregular rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the reason for them, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other causes.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to assess whether your heart is healthy and check for indications of structural issues that can lead to PVCs. You could also be asked to take stress tests to determine the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase your frequency of pvcs. You may also be able to have blood tests to assess your thyroid, potassium, and magnesium hormone levels to determine whether they are insufficient and can cause the development of PVCs.
After your doctor has determined that you're suffering from PVCs and has ruled out any serious diseases and has made a decision about how 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 trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will suggest any medication to lessen the frequency or severity of them.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs that can trigger pulses or other symptoms, like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medication such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changes in lifestyle, such as cutting down on smoking, caffeine and stress, can also reduce the frequency of these irregular pulses.
The following is a list with preventions.
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations which may feel like "skipped beats" or flutterings in the chest. These episodes can trigger an feeling of pressure or fullness, or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as effectively as it should. PVCs are linked to an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart gets larger and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemistry. Recommended Web site includes the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, in addition to drinking caffeine or alcohol. Stress or excess weight and a lack of exercise, can trigger these episodes.
Certain people find that changing their diet can help reduce the number of PVCs. They can, for instance, avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium Guanylate, diazole, and disodium Inosinate Sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.
Regular health checks are essential and include annual physicals. These tests can help you identify any heart issues that could cause your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to an appropriate diet and refrain from smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 wards of a normal hospital revealed that they were aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat infections caused by vascular catheters, but that their self-assessed compliance with these measures was poor. Compliance improved following an intervention to improve feedback, but was still lower on some of the observed wards. This suggests that education is required to implement preventive measures and that wards that are less compliant need to be targeted for infection monitoring. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely require more education and training for staff. It will also mean making sure that the correct materials are in place for the implementing of the preventive measures.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heart to skip beats or flutter. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they can be a sign of serious heart issues.
In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't a problem, and they generally disappear by themselves. However, if you suffer from a lot of them, they can cause weakness or dizziness. Speak to your doctor if concerned. They may have to identify the issue by taking an history of your medical condition and performing a physical exam. They may also want to perform an electrocardiogram or other tests.
A quick ECG test will allow your doctor to observe the heartbeat signal moving through your body over a short period of time. If you have PVCs, they'll be visible in the test. Your doctor might also want to perform a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat for longer periods of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You might also wear a portable device that records your heart rate over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor.
Other tests for the heart may be required, based on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist can check your blood pressure or conduct an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can reveal whether you suffer from a condition that is causing your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also be required to conduct 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 could be referred to an electrophysiologist, a specialist who specializes in treating abnormal heart rhythms. This specialist may need to perform other tests if you suffer from heart conditions that cause structural damage like a CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will help determine whether your heart has been damaged and how severe the damage is. In some cases doctors may suggest an implanted pacemaker to treat the issue that causes the PVCs.