Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contracts (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not harmful and will be cured by themselves.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat and look for other vitals indicators. They may order an Holter Monitor that captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a time of 24 to 48 hours. They may also order blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that reverberate through the SA node, which is a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to delay, which can cause a feeling like fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen in one 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 do not experience any symptoms, but others experience heart palpitations. It could be a pounding heartbeat or a slurred heartbeat. Other symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, or a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If window doctors has frequent episodes, doctors could recommend a change in lifestyle or diet like limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They might prescribe medication such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history, and then perform an examination to determine 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 takes a snapshot at the electrical activity within the heart. Doctors may require blood tests in some instances to look for imbalances in electrolytes or drug toxicity.
Sometimes, a pvc physician will refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm problems, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. This specialist can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs are all over the place and are generally not harmful when used frequently or for a long time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more common in people who are older or those with any form of heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with a normal heart, although it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. It's not an issue to worry about however it is crucial to speak with a doctor if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful or cause symptoms in a lot of people. They do not require treatment. However when you feel their heart has skipped an beat or is racing, it's important to consult a physician as soon as you can.
A cardiologist will interview you and perform a physical examination by listening to your heart with an stethoscope to identify any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical signals of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected it is recommended to use a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor is required to document the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you have PVCs, and their cause like an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other causes.
An echocardiogram, an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to assess if your heart is healthy and to look for indications of structural issues which could cause PVCs. You might also be asked to take stress tests to assess the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase your frequency of PVCs. You can also have blood tests to assess your thyroid, magnesium, and potassium hormone levels to determine if they are too low and can cause the development of PVCs.
If your doctor confirms that you have PVCs, and has ruled any serious illness out, the treatment option you choose depends on how they impact your life and how often they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will prescribe any medication to lessen their frequency or severity.
If you have frequent PVCs that cause palpitations or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your physician might prescribe medications like beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, such as caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can reduce the frequency of instances of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
A person may experience no symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may appear as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause a fullness or pressure in the chest, and other times they can make a person feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart is not pumping as efficiently as it normally does. PVCs are associated with an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart expands and becomes in a position to not pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemistry. This includes the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline and alcohol consumption or caffeine. Stress or weight gain, as well as a lack of exercise, can trigger these episodes.
Certain people find that changing their diet may help to reduce PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause disturbances in the heartbeat, for example disodium Guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627), and diazole sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to get enough magnesium.
Regular health checks are essential and include annual physicals. These can help diagnose any heart-related conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to an appropriate diet and refrain from smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
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Symptoms
If you feel that your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it could be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they may be the sign of heart problems.
In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't a problem and they usually go away by themselves. If you've got a lot of them, it can cause dizziness or weakening. Talk to your doctor if you are worried. You might be required to provide a medical history, and they may also conduct an examination to identify the issue. They'll also probably want to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
An ECG is a quick test that lets your health care provider detect the signal of your heartbeat moving through your heart in the course of a brief period of time. The test will reveal if you have PVCs. Your doctor may also decide to perform a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat over longer periods of time. These can help differentiate PVCs from other arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, which is a portable device that records your heart rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for your heart might be needed, depending on the reason for your PVCs. For example a cardiologist could check your blood pressure, and also perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests can reveal the presence of a medical condition that may be responsible for your PVCs or heart valves, such as cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor may also be required to run an examination of your blood to determine what the problem is in your electrolytes, such as low potassium or high levels of calcium. This could be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, like anemia and anxiety disorders.
You may be referred to an electrophysiologist who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. The doctor may be required to perform other tests if you have heart conditions that cause structural damage, such as a CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can tell whether you've suffered damage to your heart, and how serious it is. In some cases an expert may recommend pacemakers to treat the issue which is causing the PVCs.