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Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are usually not dangerous and may disappear on their own.
To diagnose PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They might recommend an Holter monitor which is a device that tracks your heart's electrical impulses over a period 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, a structure located in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to an experience similar to 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 is three or more consecutive PVCs.
While some people don't have any symptoms Some experience palpitations, which could feel like an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other signs include fatigue, dizziness, or a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who have occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors could suggest a change in the way of life or diet including a reduction in alcohol, caffeine and stress. They can prescribe beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will ask about the patient's medical history and perform a physical examination to determine their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor which is worn for longer time periods and monitors the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may order blood tests in certain cases to look for imbalances in electrolytes or drug toxicity.
A pvc doctor might refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. The doctor will confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs are fairly common and don't usually cause any issues, unless they happen frequently over a long period of time. This could lead to a weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more prevalent in older people or those suffering from heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with a normal heart, although this is more likely for those who exercise regularly. It's not an issue to worry about however it is crucial to speak with your doctor if you experience symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many people, sporadic PVCs may not cause any symptoms or require no treatment. However those who feel your heart is lagging an beat or is racing, it's crucial to consult a physician as soon as possible.
A cardiologist will begin by interviewing you and doing physical examination, and listening to your heart with an stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. You'll also undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical signals of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified, a 24-hour Holter monitor or a portable ECG will be needed to record the irregular rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you have PVCs, and their cause which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other factors.
You might be requested to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is in good order and to look for structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You could also have an exercise test to determine how your heart responds to physical exercise can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You may also be able to have blood tests to assess your thyroid, potassium, and magnesium hormone levels to determine whether they are insufficient and can cause the formation of PVCs.
Once your doctor has confirmed that you're suffering from PVCs and has eliminated any serious illnesses, the decision of how to treat them will be based on the extent to which they impact your life and the frequency at which they occur. If they only occur occasionally and do not cause symptoms then your doctor is unlikely to prescribe any medication to decrease their frequency or severity.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs that cause palpitations or other symptoms such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, like smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can also help lower the number of times you experience these abnormal pulses.
The following is a list of preventions.
A person might not experience any symptoms at all from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can appear as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. These episodes can trigger feelings of pressure or fullness, or they can make you feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as well as it should. PVCs are linked to an increased risk of developing dilated cardiac myopathy. This is a condition where the heart expands and becomes unable to pump blood.
PVCs often are caused by changes in body chemical balance. This includes the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, as well as drinking caffeine or alcohol. Stress or weight gain and a lack of exercise, can trigger these symptoms.
Some people have found that a change in their diet can reduce their PVCs. They can, for example avoid foods that contain preservatives which could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, diazole, and disodium Inosinate sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.
It is essential to have regular health checks, which include annual physicals and lab tests. These can help diagnose any underlying heart conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to an appropriate diet and avoid smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of 14 typical hospital wards revealed that healthcare workers were generally aware of preventive measures for vascular catheter-associated infection, but their self-assessed conformity to these guidelines was low. Compliance improved following a feedback intervention, but was still lower on some of the wards surveyed. This suggests that education on how to implement the preventive measures is essential and that wards that are not complying should be targeted for surveillance of infection. This information could be used to guide the implementation of further quality improvement initiatives on these wards. This will likely require further training and education for staff. It will also require making sure that the correct materials are available for the implementation of preventive measures.
Symptoms
The premature contraction of the ventricular muscle can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or be fluttering. These arrhythmias may be normal, or they could indicate that you have heart issues that are serious.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They typically disappear by themselves. If you're suffering from a lot of them, they can cause weakness or dizziness. If you're concerned you might be experiencing dizziness or weakness, talk to your doctor about them. You might need to provide a medical history, and they may also conduct an examination to determine the cause. They may also want to conduct an electrocardiogram or other tests.
An ECG is a simple test that allows your health care provider observe the signal generated by your heartbeat moving through your heart over the course of a brief duration. The test will determine if you have PVCs. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat for a longer period of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from 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 the heart may be required, based on the cause of your PVCs. For example, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). This can help determine whether you suffer from a issue that could be the cause of your PVCs like mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to conduct a blood test to see what the problem is with your electrolytes, such as low potassium or high calcium levels. This could indicate that you suffer from PVCs or another problem such as anemia, or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred to an electrophysiologist who treats abnormal heart rhythms. If you have heart disease that is structural, this specialist might need to perform additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether you've damaged your heart and how serious it is. In some instances, the doctor might recommend the use of a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying condition that's creating your PVCs.