Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs), are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are generally not dangerous and may be cured by themselves.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat and also check other vital indicators. They may order an Holter Monitor that records the electrical impulses of your heart over a span of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to assess the levels of electrolytes and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that reverberate through the SA node, a structure located in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing the sensation of the heart is fluttering or skips beats. PVCs may occur alone, or in repeated patterns. Doublets are PVCs that occur in a series of. Ventricular tachycardia can be described as three or more consecutive PVCs.
Some people don't experience any symptoms at all Others experience heart palpitations which could feel like an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other symptoms are dizziness, fatigue or a feeling of being unwell.
A lot of people who have occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a person has frequent episodes, doctors may suggest a change in diet or lifestyle, such as limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They may prescribe beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
double glazing doctors will ask about the person's medical history and conduct a physical exam to determine their general health. They can also employ a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms over longer periods of time or an electrocardiogram which captures a picture of the electrical activity in the heart. Doctors may order blood tests in some instances to check for electrolyte imbalances or toxic substances in the body.
Sometimes, a pvc physician will refer someone to a specialist for heart rhythm problems or an electrophysiologist to conduct a further examination. The doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are benign or malignant.
PVCs can be found everywhere and aren't usually harmful unless they are used regularly or for a long time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more common in people who are older, or those who have some type of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with normal heart function, but this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. It's not a serious condition, but you should tell your doctor if symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
For many, occasional PVCs may not cause any symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or not making the beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will interview you and conduct physical examinations by listening to your heart using an stethoscope to identify any irregular beats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram, which captures the electrical impulses of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been detected it is recommended to use an portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to capture the abnormal rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the reason behind them, such as an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicity, or other factors.
An echocardiogram, an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to determine whether your heart is in good health and to look for signs of structural problems that could lead to PVCs. You could also have a stress test to check how your heart reacts to physical exercise can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also get blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone as well as potassium, magnesium and other hormones to see if they're too low. This could lead to PVCs.
After your doctor confirms that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled any serious illness out, the treatment option you choose will depend on how they affect your life and how frequently they occur. If they occur only occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will suggest any medication to lessen their frequency or severity.
However, if you have frequent PVCs that cause heart palpitations, as well as other symptoms like lightheadedness or feeling like you're about to faint, your physician might recommend medications like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes such as avoiding caffeine, smoking and stress, can reduce the frequency of these irregular pulses.
Prevention
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, which can be described as "skipped beats" or flutters in your chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause a fullness or pressure in the chest, and other occasions, they may make a person 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 in which the heart becomes enlarged and unable to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemical chemistry. This is due to the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones and alcohol consumption or caffeine. Inactivity can trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excessive weight.
Some people have found that a change in their diet helps reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods that contain preservatives that could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and disodium Inosinate, and diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to get sufficient magnesium.
Regular health checks are crucial as are annual physicals. These tests can help identify any heart-related conditions that could cause your PVCs. You should also follow an appropriate diet and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 normal hospital wards found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures to avoid infections caused by vascular catheters However, their self-assessed compliance with these measures was poor. Compliance improved after feedback interventions, but was still low on a few of the observed wards. This suggests that education on how to implement preventive measures is necessary, and that those wards that are not complying should be targeted for infection surveillance. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. It is likely that this will require more education and training for staff. It will also involve making sure that the right tools are available for implementing of the preventive measures.
Symptoms
The premature contraction of the ventricular muscle can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or flutter. These arrhythmias could be normal, or they could indicate you are suffering from serious heart issues.
In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't a problem, and they usually go away by themselves. If you've got a lot of them, they can cause dizziness or weakening. Speak to your doctor if you're worried. You might be required to provide a medical history, and they might also perform an examination to diagnose the problem. They may also want to conduct an electrocardiogram or other tests.
An ECG is a quick test that will allow your doctor to observe the signal generated by your heartbeat as it moves through your heart over an extremely short period of duration. The test will reveal if you have PVCs. Your doctor might also want to do an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat for longer periods of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a handheld device which records your heart rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for the heart may be required, depending on the reason behind your PVCs. For instance, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure and do an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests can reveal whether you suffer from a condition that is responsible for your PVCs or heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor might also need to do a blood test to see what's wrong with your electrolytes for example, low potassium levels or high calcium levels. This could be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, such as anemia and anxiety disorders.
You may be referred a specialist in electrophysiology, who can treat irregular heart rhythms. The doctor may be required to conduct other tests if you are suffering from heart conditions that cause structural damage, such as the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can tell whether you've suffered damage to your heart and how severe it is. In some cases doctors may suggest pacemakers to treat the issue that causes the PVCs.