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Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), are a form of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are usually not dangerous and can disappear on their own.
To diagnose PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital indicators. They may also order a Holter Monitor, which records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a period of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that misfire through the SA node, a structure located in the lower chambers of the heart. This delays the next heartbeat, causing a feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can be seen as a single event, or in repeated patterns. Doublets are PVCs that occur in a series of. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive PVCs.
While some people don't have any symptoms whatsoever, others feel palpitations, that can be felt as the heart beating faster or slower. Other signs include dizziness, fatigue, or a feeling that you're unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a doctor may recommend a change to diet or lifestyle. For instance restricting caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They can prescribe beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will ask about the person's medical history and conduct a physical exam to assess 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 records a snapshot of the electrical activity within the heart. Doctors may require blood tests in some cases to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or toxic substances in the body.
A pvc doctor may refer patients to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. This specialist can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs are fairly common and rarely cause any problems unless they occur frequently over a long period of time. This can cause weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more prevalent in older adults or people suffering from heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with normal heart function, but it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. It's not an issue that is serious but it's important to speak with an expert if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many, occasional PVCs might not cause symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. But, for those who do feel their heart has skipped a beat or is racing, it's crucial to see a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will first interview you and perform an examination of your body and listen to your heart using an stethoscope to identify any irregular heartbeats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical signals of your heart to detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified, a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to capture the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs, and their cause like an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other factors.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to assess whether your heart is in good health and check for signs of structural problems which could cause PVCs. You could also have a stress test to check how your heart responds to exercise, since physical exercise 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 determine whether they're insufficient. This could cause PVCs.
If your doctor confirms that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled any serious diseases out, the decision to treat them will depend on how they affect your life and how frequently they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will prescribe any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.
If upvc window doctor near me have frequent PVCs that cause heart palpitations, or other symptoms such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medication such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, like cutting down on smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress can also reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
A person may experience no symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can feel like "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. These episodes can trigger a feeling of pressure or fullness or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart isn't pumping as efficiently as it normally does. PVCs are associated with a higher chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart gets larger and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemical chemistry. This is due to the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or weight gain or the absence of exercise can trigger these symptoms.
Some people find that changing their diet can reduce PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause a disturbance in the heartbeat, for example disodium Guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627), and diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.
Regular health checks are important and include annual physicals. They can aid in identifying any underlying heart conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. It is also recommended to avoid smoking and follow a healthy diet plan. This can increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of 14 typical hospital wards revealed that healthcare personnel were generally aware of preventive measures to avoid vascular catheter-associated infection, but their self-assessment of compliance to these practices was low. The compliance improved following a feedback intervention however, it was still low on a few of the wards surveyed. This suggests that education on how to implement the preventive measures is essential and that 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 additional education and training of staff. It will also mean making sure that the correct tools are available for implementing of the preventive measures.
Signs and symptoms
If you feel that your heart is racing or fluttering, it may be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they can be the sign of heart issues.
In healthy individuals, occasional PVCs aren't an issue and they usually disappear on their own. If you've got many of them, it could cause dizziness or weakness. If you're worried you might be experiencing dizziness or weakness, talk to your doctor about the symptoms. They might need to diagnose the issue by taking an medical history and giving you an examination. They'll likely also need to conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A quick ECG test lets your doctor see the signal of your heartbeat moving through your body for a an extremely short time. If you have PVCs, they'll be visible on the test. Your doctor may also suggest to conduct a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat for longer durations of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You may also wear a portable device that can record your heart rhythm over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor.
Other heart tests may be required, based on the reason behind your PVCs. A cardiologist may check your blood pressure or conduct an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). This can help determine the presence of a medical issue that could be the cause of your PVCs like mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor might also need to run an analysis of your blood to determine 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 a different health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred to an electrophysiologist who treats abnormal heart rhythms. This specialist may need to conduct other tests if you are suffering from heart conditions that cause structural damage like an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether you've suffered damage to your heart and how severe it is. In certain cases an expert may recommend a pacemaker to treat the issue that is causing the PVCs.