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Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contracts (PVCs), are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats aren't usually hazardous, and they could disappear by themselves.

Doctors will monitor your heartbeat and look for other vital indicators. They may also order an Holter Monitor, which captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a period of between 24 and 48 hours. They may also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.

Diagnosis

PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, a structure in the lower chambers of the heart. This delays the next heartbeat which can cause a feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can occur in isolation or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Some people don't experience any symptoms whatsoever Some experience palpitations, which could feel like an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. 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 someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors may recommend a change in lifestyle or diet including a reduction in caffeine, alcohol and stress. They might prescribe beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.

Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and conduct a physical exam to determine their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture an image of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor that is worn for longer time periods and records the heart's rhythms over time. In certain instances doctors may require blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.

Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer someone to a specialist for heart rhythm issues, or an electrophysiologist, for further evaluation. This doctor can 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 can cause a weakening in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more common in older people or those with any form of heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with normal heart function, but this is more likely for those who exercise regularly. Usually, this isn't a serious concern, but it is important to consult an expert if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.

Treatment

For many people, sporadic PVCs might not cause symptoms or need no treatment. However those who do feel their heart has skipped an beat or is racing, it's important to consult a physician immediately.

A cardiologist will first interview you and conduct physical examinations by listening to your heart with the stethoscope in order to detect any irregular heartbeats. 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, you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or other portable ECG will be needed to capture the irregular rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and their causes, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other causes.

You might be requested to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is in good shape and to check for structural issues which could lead to PVCs. You could also be asked to take stress tests to assess how your heart reacts to exercise. Physical activity can increase your frequency of PVCs. You can also take blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to see whether they're low. This can lead to PVCs.

If your bifold doctor has confirmed 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 infrequently and don't cause any symptoms then your doctor is unlikely to recommend any treatment that will reduce their frequency or severity.

If you have frequent PVCs that cause palpitations or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor might prescribe medications like beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changing your lifestyle to avoid triggers, such as smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can also aid in reducing the frequency of occurrences of these irregular pulses.

Prevention

There are people who do not experience symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can appear as "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger the chest to feel full or swollen in the chest, and other occasions, they may cause a person to feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart isn't pumping as effectively as normal. PVCs are linked to an increased chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and unable to pump blood.

PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical chemistry. They can be caused by the release of thyroid door and window doctor adrenaline hormones, and drinking caffeine or alcohol. Lack of exercise can trigger these episodes, as can stress or excessive weight.

Certain people find that altering their diet can help reduce the number of PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause a disturbance to the heartbeat, for example disodium guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) and diazole sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to take in more fruits and vegetables to ensure that they get enough potassium and magnesium.

Regular health checks are important, including yearly physicals. These can help diagnose any underlying heart conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. You should also follow an eat-healthy diet and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.

A survey of healthcare professionals on 14 wards of a normal hospital found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures to avoid infections caused by vascular catheters however, their self-assessment of compliance with these practices was poor. The compliance improved following a feedback intervention however it was still very lower on some of the wards surveyed. This suggests that training on how to implement the preventive measures is essential and that wards that are not complying should be targeted for infection surveillance. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely involve more training and education for personnel. It will also be important to ensure that the right tools to implement the preventive measures are in place.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or to flutter. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they may be an indication of serious heart issues.

In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not an issue. They usually disappear on their own. If you've got many of them, it could cause dizziness or weakening. If you're worried about them, consult your doctor about the symptoms. You might be required to provide a medical history, and they may also conduct an examination of the body to identify the issue. They'll likely also need to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.

A short ECG test will allow your window doctor to observe the pulse of your heart moving through your body for a an extremely short time. If you have PVCs, they will show in the test. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over 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 which tracks your heart's rhythm over 30 days.

Other tests for your heart might be required, depending on the reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist may check your blood pressure, or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). This can help determine if you have a issue that could be responsible for your PVCs or heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.

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

You could be referred to a specialist in electrophysiology, who can treat irregular heart rhythms. This specialist may need to conduct other tests if you have heart problems that are structural like an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can determine if your heart is damaged and the severity of the damage. In some instances an expert may recommend a pacemaker to treat the issue that causes the PVCs.