Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats usually aren't dangerous, and they can disappear by themselves.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat and look for other vitals indicators. They may also order an Holter Monitor, which records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a time of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also request blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
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 causes the heartbeat to be delayed, causing the feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can be seen in one pattern or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia can be described as three or more consecutive ones.
While some people don't show any symptoms at all Others experience heart palpitations that can be felt as a pounding or skipping heartbeat. Other symptoms that are common are fatigue and dizziness, as well as a feeling of being sick.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a patient is experiencing frequent episodes, a physician might suggest a change in the diet or lifestyle. For instance, limiting caffeine and stress as well as alcohol. They may also prescribe medication such as calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and perform a physical examination to determine their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms over longer periods of time or an electrocardiogram which captures a picture of the electrical activity within the heart. In certain cases, doctors may order blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
Sometimes, a pvc physician may refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm problems, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. This doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are malignant or benign.
PVCs are quite common and don't usually cause any issues, except when they are frequent over a long period of time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more common in older people, or those who have some form of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with normal heart function, but it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. It is not a major issue, but you should consult your physician if you notice symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful and do not cause symptoms in many people. They do not require treatment. But when you do feel their heart has skipped the beat or is racing, it's crucial to see a doctor as soon as possible.
A cardiologist will first interview you and conduct a physical examination and listen to your heart with the stethoscope in order to detect any irregular heartbeats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done to record the electrical signals in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified it is recommended to have an all-day Holter monitor or a portable ECG will be required to record the abnormal rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices will assist doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the cause of them, like an electrolyte imbalance, drug toxicities, or other causes.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to determine if your heart is healthy and to look for signs of structural problems that could lead to PVCs. www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk might also have a stress test to check how your heart reacts to exercise, since physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also get blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium and other hormones to determine if they're too low. This could cause PVCs.
After your doctor has determined that you have PVCs and has ruled out any serious illness and has made a decision about how to treat them will be contingent on the degree to which they're affecting your life and the frequency at which they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will recommend any medication to reduce the frequency or severity of them.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs that can trigger pulses or other symptoms, such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your physician might prescribe medications like beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, such as abstaining from smoking, caffeine and stress levels that are excessive can also decrease the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, that can feel like "skipped beats" or flutterings in the chest. These episodes can cause feelings of fullness or pressure, or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as well as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart gets larger and unable to pump blood.
PVCs often are caused by changes in body chemistry. These include the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. A lack of exercise can trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excessive weight.
Certain people find that altering their diet may help to reduce the number of PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods with preservatives, which can cause disturbances in the heart rhythm, such as disodium Guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure they are getting enough magnesium and potassium.
Regular health checks are essential, including yearly physicals. These can help diagnose any heart issues which could be causing your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to a healthy eating plan and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.
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Symptoms
If you feel like your heart is racing or fluttering, it could be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless, but they could indicate that you have heart issues that are serious.
In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't a problem and they usually go away by themselves. However, if you suffer from several of them, they may cause dizziness or weakness. If you're worried about them, consult your doctor about the symptoms. They may need to determine the problem by taking a medical history and conducting a physical exam. They might also 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 for an extremely short period of duration. The test will determine if you have PVCs. Your doctor might also suggest the use of a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over a longer period of time. These can help differentiate PVCs from other arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a handheld device which records your heart rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for your heart might be required, depending on the reason behind your PVCs. For instance a cardiologist could check your blood pressure, and also perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests will determine if you suffer from an illness like heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor might also need to do an examination of your blood to determine what's wrong with your electrolytes, for example, low potassium levels or high calcium levels. This could indicate that you suffer from PVCs or a different problem such as anemia, or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred a specialist in electrophysiology, who can treat irregular heart rhythms. This specialist may need to perform other tests if you suffer from heart conditions that cause structural damage, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can determine if your heart is damaged and how severe the damage is. In some cases, the doctor might suggest a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying issue causing your PVCs.