Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contracts (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats aren't usually dangerous, and they can disappear by themselves.
To diagnose PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat and check other vital indicators. They may also order an Holter Monitor, which records the electrical impulses of your heart over a span of 24 to 48 hours. They can also request blood tests to check your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.
Diagnosis
PVCs occur when electrical impulses coming from the heart's lower chambers, or ventricles, misfire through a structure known as the SA node. This delays the next heartbeat, causing the feeling of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can occur in isolation, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the term ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people do not experience any symptoms, but others experience heart palpitations. This can feel like the sound of a beating heart or a skipping heartbeat. Other common symptoms are tiredness, dizziness or a sensation of being unwell.
Many people who suffer from occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a person has frequent episodes, doctors may recommend a change in diet or lifestyle like limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They might prescribe beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and conduct an examination to assess their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms for a longer period of time or an electrocardiogram which takes a snapshot at the electrical activity within the heart. In certain cases doctors may require blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
A pvc doctor may refer the patient to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. This doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are benign or malignant.
upvc window doctor near me are fairly frequent and usually don't cause any issues, except when they are frequent over a long period of time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common in older people or those with some form of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. Usually, this isn't an issue that is serious, but it is important to consult a doctor if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many people, sporadic PVCs may not cause any symptoms or need no treatment. However those who do experience a sensation like your heart is lagging the beat or is racing, it's vital to see a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will begin by interviewing you and performing a an examination of your body, listening to your heart with an stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed, which will record the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected, the use of a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor is required to document the abnormal rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the reason for them like an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other factors.
You might be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is good and to look for structural issues that could cause PVCs. You may also be asked to take an exercise test to assess how your heart reacts to exercise. Physical activity can increase the frequency of PVCs. You can also take blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium and other hormones to see whether they're low. This could lead to PVCs.
If your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs and has ruled any serious illnesses out, the treatment option you choose will depend on how they affect your life and how often they occur. If they happen only infrequently and don't cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any treatment that can reduce 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 suggest medication, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, such as abstaining from smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress can reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations which can feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in your chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger a fullness or pressure in the chest. Other times they can make someone feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart isn't pumping as efficiently as it normally does. The frequent PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated Cardiomyopathy, a condition wherein the heart gets larger and is not able to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry. They can be caused by the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, as well as drinking caffeine or alcohol. Stress or excess weight and a lack of exercise, can trigger these episodes.
Some people can find that a change in diet helps reduce their PVCs. For instance, they could avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause a disturbance in the heartbeat, for example disodium guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). They can also take in more fruits and vegetables to ensure they're getting enough magnesium and potassium.
Regular health checks are essential, including yearly physicals. These tests can help identify any heart issues which could be causing your PVCs. Also, you should not smoke and adhere to an appropriate diet plan. This can increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of 14 normal hospital wards found that healthcare workers were generally aware of preventive measures for vascular catheter-associated infection, but their self-assessment of compliance to these procedures was not high. After a feedback intervention the compliance level improved on a few wards but was still low. This suggests that training is required to implement preventive measures and those wards that are less conforming should be targeted for infection monitoring. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. It is likely that this will require additional education and training of personnel. It will also mean making sure that the right tools are available for implementing of the preventive measures.
Symptoms
If you feel that your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it may be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be normal, or they could indicate that you are suffering from serious heart issues.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not any problem. They usually disappear on their own. If you're suffering from several of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. If you're worried about them, consult your doctor about the symptoms. They might need to diagnose the issue by taking an history of your medical condition and performing a physical exam. They may also do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
An ECG is a quick test that lets your health care provider observe the signal generated by your heartbeat as it moves through your heart for an extremely short period of period of time. The test will show whether you have PVCs. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over a longer amount of time. These can help differentiate PVCs from other arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, which is a portable device that keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for your heart might be required, depending on the reason behind your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can reveal the presence of a medical condition that is responsible for your PVCs, such as cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to perform an analysis of your blood to determine the problem with your electrolytes. For example, low potassium levels or a high level of calcium. This could be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, including anxiety disorders and anemia.
You may be referred a specialist in electrophysiology, who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. If you have heart disease that is structural the doctor may need to conduct additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether you've suffered damage to your heart and how serious it is. In some cases an expert may recommend pacemakers to treat the condition which is causing the PVCs.