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.

To determine PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital indicators. They might order a Holter monitor, a device that tracks your heart's electrical impulses over the course of 24 hours. They can also order 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 delays the next heartbeat which can cause an experience of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can occur in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive ones.

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

A lot of people who have occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors may suggest a change to lifestyle or diet, such as limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They can prescribe medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.

Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and perform an examination of the body to assess their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture an image of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor which is worn for longer periods and captures the heart's rhythms over time. In certain cases doctors may request blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.

Sometimes, a pvc physician may refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm problems, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or malignant.

PVCs are fairly common and don't usually cause any issues, except when they are frequent over a long time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most prevalent in people who are older or those suffering from some form of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with a normal heart, although this is more likely for those who exercise regularly. This is not a serious issue, but you should consult your physician if you notice symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.

Treatment

For many people, occasional PVCs may not cause any symptoms or are harmless and skylight Window repair need no treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or skipping a beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately.

A cardiologist will interview you and then perform physical examinations and listen to your heart using a stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical impulses of your heart to detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found then a 24-hour Holter monitor or another portable ECG will be needed to record the irregular rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and their causes, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other causes.

An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, could be ordered to determine whether your heart is healthy and look for any indications of structural issues which could cause PVCs. You might also be required to undergo an exercise test to determine the response of your heart to exercise. Physical activity can increase the frequency of pvcs. You may also undergo blood tests to determine your thyroid, magnesium, and louvred Window repair potassium hormone levels to find out if they are too low which could contribute to the formation of PVCs.

If your doctor confirms that you suffer from PVCs, and has ruled any serious diseases out, the decision to treat them depends on how they impact your life and how frequently they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will recommend any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.

If you experience frequent PVCs, which can cause pulses or other symptoms, such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your physician might prescribe medications like beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, like cutting down on smoking, caffeine and stress, can also reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.

Prevention

PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, that can feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause an increase in pressure or fullness in the chest, and at other times, they can cause a person to feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as effectively as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart expands and becomes is unable to pump blood.

PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemical balance. This includes the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, in addition to drinking caffeine or alcohol. Stress or excess weight or a lack of exercise, can trigger these episodes.

Certain people find that altering their diet can reduce the number of PVCs. They can, for instance avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and diazole, and disodium Inosinate Sodium (E282-283). They can also eat more vegetables and fruits to ensure they're getting enough magnesium and potassium.

Regular health checks are crucial as are annual physicals. These can help diagnose any underlying heart conditions which could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to a healthy eating plan and refrain from smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.

A survey of healthcare staff on 14 wards of a normal hospital found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures to avoid vascular catheter-associated infections however, their self-assessment of compliance with these measures was poor. After a feedback intervention the compliance level improved on a few wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that training on how to implement preventive measures is required, and that those wards that are not complying should be targeted for surveillance of infection. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. It is likely that this will require further education and training for staff. It will also be important to ensure that the appropriate materials for implementing the preventive measures are readily available.

Symptoms

Involuntary ventricular contractions that are premature can cause your heartbeat to skip or flutter. These arrhythmias could be normal, or they could indicate you are suffering from serious heart issues.

In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not an issue. They usually disappear by themselves. If you've got a lot of them, they can cause dizziness or weakening. If you're worried about them, consult your doctor about the symptoms. They may need to determine the issue by taking a medical history and giving you an examination. They may also do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or Window Balance repair other tests.

A quick ECG test allows your doctor to see the signal of your heartbeat moving through your body over a short period of time. The test will reveal whether you have PVCs. Your doctor may also suggest a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over a longer amount of time. This can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You could also be wearing a device that can record your heart rhythm over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor.

Other tests for your heart might 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 can help find whether you suffer from a issue that could be responsible for your PVCs like cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.

Your doctor may also have to do an examination of your blood to determine what the problem is in your electrolytes, for example, low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, including anxiety disorders and anemia.

You could be referred to an electrophysiologist who can treat irregular 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 tell you whether you've suffered damage to your heart and how serious it is. In some instances, a specialist may recommend a pacemaker to treat the condition that causes the PVCs.