Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), are a kind of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are generally not dangerous and may go away by themselves.
To determine PVC doctors listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They might order an Holter Monitor that records the electrical impulses of your heart over a time of between 24 and 48 hours. They may also order blood tests to check your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that misfire through the SA node, a structure located in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing a feeling like racing or skipped beats. PVCs may occur alone, or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia can be described as three or more consecutive PVCs.
While some people don't have any symptoms at all Some experience palpitations, that can be felt as a pounding or skipping heartbeat. Other symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, or a feeling of being unwell.
A lot of people who have occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a patient has frequent episodes, a doctor might recommend a change in diet or lifestyle. For example, limiting caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They may also prescribe medication such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers, which can slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and conduct an examination to determine their general health. They can also employ a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms for a longer period of time or an electrocardiogram which captures a picture of the electrical activity within the heart. In certain instances, doctors may order blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
A pvc doctor may refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. This specialist can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs are fairly common and rarely cause any problems, unless they occur frequently over a long time. This can cause weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more common in people who are older, or those who have some form of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with a normal heart, although this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. It's not a serious issue, but you should tell your doctor if symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur.
Treatment
PVCs aren't harmful or cause any symptoms in the majority of people. They do not require treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or skipping a beat, it's best to seek out a physician immediately.
A cardiologist will first interview you and perform a physical examination and listen to your heart with the stethoscope in order to detect any irregular heartbeats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) done that records the electrical signals in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified then a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor is required to capture the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you have PVCs and the reason for them which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other factors.
You may be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine if your heart health is in good shape and to check for structural issues that could cause PVCs. You may also undergo an exercise test to determine how your heart responds to exercise, since physical exercise can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You may also undergo blood tests to determine your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to determine whether they are low, which can contribute to the development of PVCs.
After your doctor confirms that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled any serious illness out, the treatment option you choose is based on the impact they have on your life and how often they occur. If double glazing doctor occur only occasionally and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will suggest any medication to lessen their frequency or severity.
If you experience frequent PVCs that cause palpitations and other symptoms, such as feeling lightheaded or like you're going to faint, your physician may suggest medications for you, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to stay clear of triggers, such as smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can also aid in reducing the frequency of times you experience these unusual pulses.
Prevention
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations which may be described as "skipped beats" or flutterings in the chest. These episodes can create feelings of pressure or fullness or they can make you feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart isn't functioning as efficiently as it should. The frequent PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. a condition wherein the heart gets larger and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in the body's chemical chemistry. This includes the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones and alcohol consumption or caffeine. Stress or excess weight or the absence of exercise can trigger these symptoms.
Certain people find that changing their diet can reduce the amount of PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause a disturbance to the heart rhythm, such as disodium Guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627), and diazole sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to get enough magnesium.
It is crucial to undergo regular health checks, which include annual physicals and laboratory tests. These can help diagnose any heart issues which could be causing your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to a healthy eating plan and refrain from smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
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Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heart to skip beats or to flutter. These arrhythmias aren't necessarily dangerous or they could be an indication of serious heart issues.
In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't a problem, and they usually disappear by themselves. If you've got a lot of them, it could cause dizziness or weakening. Speak to your doctor if you are worried. They might need to diagnose the issue by taking a medical history and giving you a physical exam. They may also want to conduct an electrocardiogram or other tests.
A quick ECG test lets your doctor see the signal of your heartbeat moving through your body over an extremely short time. The test will determine if you have PVCs. Your doctor may also suggest to perform an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat for longer periods of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, which is a portable device which records your heart rhythm for 30 days.
Other tests for your heart might be required, based on the reason for your PVCs. For instance an cardiologist may test your blood pressure and do an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). This can help determine whether you suffer from a condition that is responsible for your PVCs or heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to conduct a blood test to see what the problem is with your electrolytes for example, low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign that you have PVCs or another health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You could be referred to an electrophysiologist an expert who specializes in treating abnormal heart rhythms. If you suffer from heart disease that is structural the specialist may have to conduct additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine if your heart is damaged and how severe the damage is. In some cases an expert may recommend pacemakers to treat the issue that is causing the PVCs.