Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contracts (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are typically not dangerous and can go away by themselves.
To determine PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat and check other vital indicators. They may order a Holter monitor, a device that records your heart's electrical impulses over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They can also request blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs happen when electrical impulses from the heart's lower chambers, or ventricles, misfire through a structure referred to as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to a feeling like racing or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen as a single event, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets, while three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Some people have no symptoms, while others experience heart palpitations. It could be the sound of a beating heart or a rapid heartbeat. Other signs are dizziness, fatigue or a feeling of being unwell.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors may recommend 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 and calcium channel blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and conduct an examination of the body to assess their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms for longer periods of time, or an electrocardiogram, which takes a snapshot at the electrical activity in the heart. In certain cases doctors may require blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
Sometimes, a pvc physician will refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm issues or an electrophysiologist for further evaluation. The doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are malignant or benign.
PVCs are frequent and usually don't cause any problems unless they occur frequently over a long period of time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common for people over the age of 65 or those with some type of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with a normal heart, although this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. This is not a serious condition, but you should consult your physician if you notice symptoms like fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
PVCs aren't harmful or cause symptoms in many people. They do not require treatment. If you notice that your heart is racing or skipping a beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and performing a a physical exam, monitoring your heart using a stethoscope for any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical impulses of your heart to detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified, you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or other portable ECG will be needed to detect the abnormal rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs, and their cause like an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other factors.
You may be required to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine if your heart health is in good order and to look for structural issues that could cause PVCs. You might also have a stress test to check how your heart responds to exercise, as physical exercise can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also have blood tests to check your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium and other hormones to determine whether they're low. This could lead to PVCs.
If your doctor confirms that you have PVCs and has ruled any serious illness out, the treatment you choose to take is based on the impact they have on your life and the frequency they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will recommend any medication to lessen the frequency or severity of them.
If, however, you suffer from frequent PVCs that cause the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, like lightheadedness or feeling like you're going to faint, your physician may suggest medications, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Making the window doctor to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, such as smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress, can also reduce the frequency of occurrences of these unusual pulses.
Prevention
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations that can feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. These episodes can create an feeling of pressure or fullness, or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart isn't pumping as efficiently as it normally does. Frequent PVCs increase the risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart gets larger and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in the body's chemical balance. These include the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, in addition to drinking alcohol or caffeine. Inactivity can trigger these symptoms and stress, as well as excessive weight.
Certain people find that changing their diet may help to reduce PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods with preservatives, which can cause a disturbance in the heartbeat, for example disodium guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) and diazole sodium (E282-283). They can also eat more vegetables and fruits to ensure they are getting enough magnesium and potassium.
It is essential to have regular health checks, which include annual physicals and laboratory tests. These tests can help identify any heart-related conditions that could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to avoid smoking and follow the healthy eating plan. This can increase your frequency of episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 wards of a normal hospital showed that they were generally aware of the preventive measures to avoid infections caused by vascular catheters however, their self-assessment of compliance with these guidelines was not great. After a feedback program the compliance level improved on a few areas, but was still very low. This suggests that education on the best ways to implement preventive measures is essential and that the wards which are less compliant should be targeted for infection surveillance. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. It is likely that this will require more education and training for staff. It will also involve making sure that the appropriate materials are available for the implementing of the preventive measures.
Symptoms
If you feel your heart is racing or fluttering, it may be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be harmless, but they could indicate that you are suffering from serious heart issues.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They usually disappear by themselves. If you're suffering from many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. Consult your doctor if you are worried. They might need to diagnose the problem by taking an history of your medical condition and giving you a physical exam. They may also want to conduct an electrocardiogram or other tests.
A short ECG test allows your doctor to see the signal of your heartbeat going through your body over a an extremely short time. If you have PVCs, they'll show up in the test. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over a longer amount of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You may also be wearing a device that can record your heart rhythm over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor.
Other tests for the heart may be required, based on the reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist may check your blood pressure, or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These can help find if you have a issue that could be responsible for your PVCs like mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure.
Your doctor may also be required to do a blood test to see what is wrong in your electrolytes, for example, low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign that you have PVCs, or another condition such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred an electrophysiologist who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. This specialist may need to conduct additional tests if you suffer from structural heart diseases, such as the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will determine if your heart is damaged and the severity of the damage. In some instances, the doctor may recommend the use of a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying condition that's the cause of your PVCs.