Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contracts (PVCs), are a form of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are generally not dangerous and can disappear on their own.
To diagnose PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital indicators. They might order an Holter monitor which tracks your heart's electrical impulses over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They can also request blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, which is a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the heartbeat to be delayed and causes the feeling of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can occur in isolation or in repeated patterns. Doublets are PVCs that occur in a series of. Ventricular tachycardia is three or more consecutive PVCs.
Some people don't experience any symptoms whatsoever Some experience palpitations, that can be felt as an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other signs include fatigue, dizziness, or feeling unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a patient has frequent episodes, a physician might recommend a change in the diet or lifestyle. For example restricting caffeine and stress as well as alcohol. They may also prescribe medication such as calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers, which can slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask about the medical history of the patient and perform a physical examination to assess their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to record 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 order blood tests in some instances to check for electrolyte imbalances or toxic substances in the body.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor may refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm problems or an electrophysiologist for further evaluation. The doctor will confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs are quite common and don't usually cause any problems, except when they are frequent over a long time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more prevalent in older people or those suffering from heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. It is not a major condition, but you should inform your doctor if symptoms like fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
For many people, occasional PVCs may not cause any symptoms or require no treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or slurring a beat, it's best to see a doctor right away.
A cardiologist will interview you and then perform physical examinations and listen to your heart with a stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) done that records the electrical impulses in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found it is recommended to have a 24-hour Holter monitor or other portable ECG is required to capture the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can assist doctors determine whether you have PVCs, and their cause like an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other causes.
You may be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine whether your heart health is in good shape and to check for structural issues which could lead to PVCs. You might also be required to undergo stress tests to find out the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase your frequency of PVCs. You can also get blood tests to check your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium and other hormones to see whether they're insufficient. This could lead to PVCs.
After your doctor confirms that you have PVCs, and has ruled any serious illness out, the decision to treat them will depend on how they affect your life and the frequency they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will prescribe any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.
If you experience frequent PVCs, which can cause heart palpitations, or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your physician may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changing your lifestyle to avoid triggers, such as caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can also reduce the frequency of occurrences of these irregular pulses.
Prevention
A person may experience no symptoms at all from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can be felt as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. These episodes can trigger an feeling of pressure or fullness, or make you feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart gets larger and in a position to not pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemical chemistry. This is due to the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline, as well drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or excess weight or an insufficient amount of exercise can trigger these symptoms.
Some people can find that a change in diet helps to reduce their PVCs. They can, for instance avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and diazole, and disodium inosinate sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to take in more fruits and vegetables to ensure that they get enough magnesium and potassium.
It is essential to have regular health check-ups, which include annual physicals and laboratory tests. These tests can help diagnose any heart-related conditions that could be causing your PVCs. You should also follow a healthy eating plan and avoid smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
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Signs and symptoms
If you feel your heart is skipping beats or fluttering, it may be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they could be the sign of heart problems.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not any problem. They generally disappear on their own. If you've got a lot of them, it can cause dizziness or weakness. Talk to your doctor if concerned. They may need to determine the issue by taking a medical history and performing an examination. repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk might also perform an electrocardiogram or other tests.
An ECG is a simple test that lets your health care provider see the signal from your heartbeat as it travels through your heart in the course of a brief period of time. If you have PVCs, they'll show up in the test. Your doctor may also recommend a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat for a longer period of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a handheld device which keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for your heart might be needed, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For instance a cardiologist could check your blood pressure, and also perform an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These tests will determine whether you are suffering from an issue such as heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor might also need to run a blood test to see what's wrong in your electrolytes, like low potassium or high calcium levels. This could be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that may cause them, like anxiety disorders and anemia.
You may be referred to an electrophysiologist who can treat irregular heart rhythms. If you suffer from heart disease that is structural the specialist may have to do other tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will tell you whether you've suffered damage to your heart and how severe it is. In some cases, the doctor may recommend a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying condition that's causing your PVCs.