Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contracts (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are typically not harmful and will disappear on their own.

Doctors will monitor your heartbeat and also check other vital indicators. They might recommend an Holter monitor which records the electrical impulses your heart produces over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They can also request blood tests to check 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 delay, which can cause the sensation of fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs may occur alone, or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia is three or more consecutive PVCs.

Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, whereas others experience palpitations. It can be felt as a pounding heartbeat or a skipping heartbeat. Other common symptoms are tiredness and dizziness, as well as a feeling of being unwell.

Many people who have occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a window doctor may recommend a change to diet or lifestyle. For example, limiting caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They may prescribe beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.

Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and do a physical exam to determine their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms over longer periods of time, or an electrocardiogram, which takes a snapshot at the electrical activity of the heart. Doctors may require blood tests in some cases to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or toxic effects of drugs.

Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm problems, or an electrophysiologist, for further evaluation. This glass doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.

PVCs can be found everywhere and are not usually harmful when used frequently or for a long time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more prevalent in older adults or people suffering from heart disease. It can also happen to healthy people with normal, normal hearts. However, it is more prevalent in people who exercise regularly. This is not a serious problem, but it is important to consult your physician if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue occur.

Treatment

PVCs aren't harmful or cause any symptoms in the majority of people. They don't require treatment. But, for those who do feel their heart has skipped a beat or is racing, it's important to speak to a doctor as soon as possible.

A cardiologist will first interview you and conduct an examination of your body, listening to your heart with an stethoscope to identify any irregular beats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done that records the electrical signals in your heart and identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been identified it is recommended to use a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to capture the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will assist doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the reason behind them, such as an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicities, or other causes.

You might be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine whether your heart health is in good order and to look for structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You could also be required to undergo stress tests to determine how your heart reacts to exercise. Exercise can increase the frequency of pvcs. You can also get blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium and other hormones to see whether they're low. This can lead to PVCs.

If your doctor confirms that you suffer from PVCs, and has ruled any serious illness out, the treatment you choose to take depends on how they impact your life and how often they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely that your door doctor will recommend any medication to lessen their frequency or severity.

If you experience frequent PVCs that trigger the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, such as light-headedness or feeling like you're going to faint, your physician might suggest medication for you, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changes in lifestyle, like cutting down on smoking, caffeine and stress, can also reduce the frequency of these irregular pulses.

Prevention

A person might not experience any symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that can feel like "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. These episodes can cause an feeling of pressure or fullness or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as well as it should. Regular PVCs increase a person's risk of developing dilated Cardiomyopathy, a condition wherein the heart enlarges and is not able to pump blood.

PVCs often are caused by changes in the body's chemical balance. This can be caused by the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, as well drinking alcohol or caffeine. A lack of exercise can also trigger these episodes, as can stress or excess weight.

Some people find that changing their diet may help to reduce PVCs. They can, for example 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 vegetables to ensure that you get enough magnesium.

Regular health checks are crucial and include annual physicals. These tests can help identify any heart-related conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. It is also recommended to refrain from smoking and adhere to an appropriate diet plan. This can increase the frequency of episodes.

A survey of healthcare workers on 14 wards of a normal hospital found that they were mostly aware of the window doctors preventive measures for vascular catheter-associated infections However, their self-assessed compliance with these practices was low. After a feedback intervention the compliance level improved on a few wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that training is required to implement preventive measures, and those wards that are not compliant need to be targeted for infection monitoring. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This could involve more training and education for personnel. It will also be necessary to ensure that the right tools for implementing the preventive measures are readily available.

Signs and symptoms

If you feel like your heart is racing or fluttering, it may be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias could be harmless, or they could be a sign that you have heart issues that are serious.

In healthy individuals, occasional PVCs aren't a problem and they usually go away by themselves. If you have many of them, it can cause dizziness or weakening. If you're concerned, talk to your doctor about them. They may need to determine the problem by taking an medical history and giving you a physical exam. They may also want to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.

A short ECG test will allow your doctor to observe the signal of your heartbeat moving through your body for a a short period of time. The test will reveal whether you have PVCs. Your doctor might also want to perform an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over longer periods of time. This can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias which cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a portable device that keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.

Other tests for your heart might be needed, depending on the reason for your PVCs. For instance a cardiologist could check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These tests can tell whether you are suffering from a condition like heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.

Your doctor might also need to run an examination of your blood to determine what is wrong with your electrolytes, like low potassium 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 could be referred to an electrophysiologist who can treat irregular heart rhythms. The specialist might need to conduct additional tests if you suffer from structural heart diseases, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will tell you whether you've suffered damage to your heart and how severe it is. In some instances, the doctor might suggest the use of a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying issue the cause of your PVCs.