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Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are generally not dangerous and can go away by themselves.

Doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and check other vitals indicators. They may order an Holter Monitor, which records the electrical impulses of your heart over a span of between 24 and 48 hours. They may also order blood tests for checking your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.

Diagnosis

PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, a structure in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to a feeling like racing or skipped beats. PVCs can occur in one pattern or repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia can be described as three or more consecutive ones.

Some people have no symptoms, but others experience palpitations. It could be an unsteady heartbeat or a rapid heartbeat. Other typical symptoms include fatigue or dizziness, or a feeling of being unwell.

Many people who suffer from occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors may suggest a change in the way of life or diet, such as limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They may also prescribe medication, such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers which can lower the heart rate and lower blood pressure.

Doctors will ask about the person's medical history and perform a physical examination to determine their general health. They may also employ an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture an image of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor, emergency window repair which is worn for longer durations and captures the heart's rhythms over time. In certain instances, picture Window repair doctors may order blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.

A pvc physician may refer a patient to an electrophysiologist or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not.

PVCs are fairly common and don't usually cause any problems, except when they are frequent over a long time. This can cause weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most prevalent in older people or those suffering from some form of heart disease. This can happen to healthy people with normal, normal hearts. However, it is more prevalent in people who regularly exercise. Most of the time, this isn't a serious concern, but it is important to tell an expert if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.

Treatment

PVCs are not harmful or cause symptoms in many people. They don't require treatment. But when you feel your heart is lagging a beat or is racing, it's crucial to speak to a doctor as soon as you can.

A cardiologist will start by interviewing you and performing a an examination of your body, listening to your heart with an stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) done to record the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected then an all-day Holter monitor or other portable ECG will be required to detect the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and their causes which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other factors.

An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to assess whether your heart is in good health and check for signs of structural problems that can lead to PVCs. You might also have an exercise test to determine how your heart reacts to physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also get blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium and other hormones to see whether they're insufficient. This could lead to PVCs.

After your doctor has determined that you're suffering from PVCs and has eliminated any serious illness, the decision on whether or not to treat them will be contingent on how much they're impacting your life and how frequently they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms then your doctor is unlikely to prescribe any medication that can decrease their frequency or severity.

However, if you have frequent PVCs that do cause the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, like lightheadedness or feeling like you're about to faint, your doctor might recommend medications, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, like caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can aid in reducing the frequency of instances of these irregular pulses.

Prevention

There are people who do not experience symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may feel like "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause the chest to feel full or swollen in the chest. Other occasions, they may make someone feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart isn't pumping as efficiently as it normally does. Frequent PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart expands and becomes ineffective at pump blood.

PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemical chemistry. These include the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, and drinking caffeine or alcohol. Inactivity can trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excess weight.

Some people can find that a change in their diet helps reduce their PVCs. They can, for instance avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, disodium Inosinate, and diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and vegetables to get sufficient magnesium.

Regular health checks are essential as are annual physicals. These tests can help you identify any heart-related conditions that could cause your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to an appropriate diet and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.

A survey of 14 regular hospital wards showed that healthcare staff were generally aware of preventive measures for infections caused by vascular catheters, however their self-assessment of compliance to these guidelines was low. The compliance improved following feedback interventions, but was still lower on some of the observed wards. This suggests that education on how to implement preventive measures is required and that wards that are not complying should be targeted for surveillance of infection. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. It is likely that this will require further education and training for personnel. It is also necessary to ensure that the correct tools to implement the preventive measures are readily available.

Signs and symptoms

The premature contraction of the ventricular muscle can cause your heart to skip beats or to flutter. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they can be a sign of serious heart problems.

In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not any problem. They typically disappear on their own. If you've got many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. Talk to your doctor if you are worried. They might need to diagnose the issue by taking a medical history and giving you a physical exam. They might also conduct an electrocardiogram or other tests.

A short ECG test will allow your doctor to observe the pulse of your heart moving through your body for a an extremely short time. If you have PVCs, they'll be visible on the test. Your doctor may also suggest the use of a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over a longer period of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You might also wear a portable device that can record your heart rhythm over 30 days, called an event monitor.

Other tests for your heart might be required, depending on the reason behind your PVCs. For example an cardiologist may test your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests can tell whether you have a condition such as heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.

Your doctor may also be required to conduct tests on your blood to identify the problem with electrolytes. For instance, you may have low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that may cause them, such as anemia and anxiety disorders.

You could be referred to an electrophysiologist who can treat irregular heart rhythms. This specialist may need to perform other tests if you are suffering from structural heart diseases like a CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will tell you if you have damage to your heart and how serious it is. In some cases an expert may recommend a pacemaker to treat the condition that is causing the PVCs.