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Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not risky, and they may go away on their own.

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

Diagnosis

PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that misfire through the SA node, which is a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This delay the next heartbeat which can cause the feeling of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can be seen as a single event, or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive PVCs.

Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, but others experience heart palpitations. This can feel like an unsteady heartbeat or a skipping heartbeat. Other symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, or feeling unwell.

Many people with occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a patient is experiencing frequent episodes, a physician may recommend a change to diet or lifestyle. For instance, limiting caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They may also prescribe medications, such as beta-blockers and calcium channel 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 of the body to determine their general health. They can also employ a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms for a longer period of time, or an electrocardiogram, which captures a picture of the electrical activity within the heart. Doctors may require blood tests in some cases to check for electrolyte imbalances or toxic effects of drugs.

Sometimes, a pvc doctor will refer someone to a specialist for heart rhythm issues, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. The doctor will confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.

PVCs are common and don't usually 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. This is more prevalent in older adults or those suffering from heart disease. It can also happen to healthy people with a normal, normal heart. However, it's more common in those who regularly exercise. It is not a major problem, but it is important to consult your physician if you notice symptoms like fatigue or fainting occur.

Treatment

PVCs are not harmful and do not cause symptoms in many people. They don't require treatment. However those who do experience a sensation like their heart has skipped an beat or is racing, it's crucial to speak to a doctor immediately.

A cardiologist will then interview you and perform an examination of your body and listen to your heart through the stethoscope in order to detect any irregular beats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical impulses of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified then an all-day Holter monitor or other portable ECG will be required to record the abnormal rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and their causes, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, toxic drugs 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 which could lead to PVCs. You could also have a stress test to see how your heart responds to exercise, since physical activity can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also take blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium and other hormones to determine whether they're low. This could cause PVCs.

If your doctor confirms that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled any serious diseases out, the treatment you choose to take depends on how they impact your life and the frequency they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will recommend any medication to decrease the frequency or severity of them.

If you have frequent PVCs, which can cause pulses or other symptoms, like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, like caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can help lower the number of occurrences of these irregular pulses.

Prevention

PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, which can feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in your chest. These episodes can trigger feelings of pressure or fullness, or make you feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as well as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased risk of developing dilated cardiac myopathy. This is a condition where the heart gets larger and unable to pump blood.

PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical balance. This is due to the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline, as well drinking alcohol or caffeine. Lack of exercise can trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excessive weight.

Certain people find that altering their diet can reduce the amount of PVCs. For instance, they could avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause a disturbance in the heart rhythm, such as disodium guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627) and diazole sodium (E282-283). They can also consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure they're getting enough potassium and magnesium.

It is essential to have regular health check-ups, which include annual physicals and lab tests. These can help diagnose any underlying heart conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. Also, you should not smoke and adhere to the healthy eating plan. This can increase your frequency of episodes.

A survey of healthcare professionals on 14 normal hospital wards showed that they were generally aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat vascular catheter-associated infections however, their self-assessment of compliance with these guidelines was low. After a feedback program the compliance level improved on a few areas, but was still very low. This suggests that training on how to implement preventive measures is required, and that those areas that are not as well-adjusted should be targeted for surveillance of infection. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely involve further education and training for personnel. It will also mean making sure that the appropriate tools are available for implementation of preventive measures.

Symptoms

If you feel your heart is racing or fluttering, it could be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they can be a sign of serious heart problems.

In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not an issue. They usually disappear by themselves. If you've got many of them, it could cause dizziness or weakness. If you're concerned, talk to your doctor about the symptoms. You might need to provide a medical history, and they may also conduct an examination to determine the cause. They might also perform an electrocardiogram or other tests.

A short ECG test will allow your doctor to observe the heartbeat signal moving through your body over the course of a brief period. The test will determine whether you have PVCs. Your doctor might also suggest a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over a longer period of time. These can help differentiate PVCs from other types of arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a portable device which keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.

Other tests for the heart may be required, depending on the reason for your PVCs. For example an cardiologist may test your blood pressure and do an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These tests can determine whether you have a condition such as heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, or cardiomyopathy.

Your doctor may also have to run a blood test to determine the issue with electrolytes. For instance, you may have low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This can be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, like anemia and anxiety disorders.

You could be directed to an electrophysiologist, one of the specialists who specialize in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal. The specialist might need to perform other tests if you are suffering from heart problems that are structural like an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can tell whether you've damaged your heart, and how serious it is. In  window doctor , a specialist might recommend a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying condition that's causing your PVCs.