Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not risky, and they may disappear by themselves.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They may order a Holter monitor which is a device that records your heart's electrical impulses over 24-48 hours. They might also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses coming from the lower chambers of the heart, or
Window Maintenance ventricles, misfire through a structure referred to as the SA node. This causes the heartbeat to be delayed and
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www.stes.tyc.edu.tw - causes a feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs may occur alone, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the condition known as ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Some people have no symptoms, whereas others experience 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 sick.
Many people with occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a patient is experiencing frequent episodes, a doctor might recommend a change in diet or lifestyle. For example the restriction of caffeine and stress as well as alcohol. They might prescribe medication such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.
Doctors will ask about the patient's medical history and perform a physical examination to assess their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms for longer durations, or an electrocardiogram, which takes a snapshot at the electrical activity of the heart. In certain cases, doctors may order blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
A pvc doctor may refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. The doctor can confirm a diagnosis of PVCs, and determine whether they are malignant or benign.
PVCs are everywhere and are generally not harmful when used frequently or for a long period of time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most prevalent in older people or those with some form of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with normal heart function,
Ranch Window Repair but this is more likely for those who exercise regularly. Usually, this isn't a serious concern, but it is important to speak with an expert if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful and do not cause any symptoms in the majority of people. They don't require treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or skipping an entire beat, you need to see a doctor right away.
A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and performing a an examination of your body, listening to your heart with the stethoscope to look for irregular heartbeats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical signals of your heart to detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected, an portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor is required to record the abnormal rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the reason behind them, such as an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicities, or other causes.
You may be requested to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine whether your heart health is in good shape and to check for structural problems that could cause PVCs. You may also undergo a stress test to see how your heart responds to exercise, since physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also take blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to see whether they're low. This could cause PVCs.
After your doctor has determined that you're suffering from PVCs and has eliminated any serious diseases and has made a decision about whether or not 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 only occur occasionally and do not cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any treatment that can decrease their frequency or severity.
If you experience frequent PVCs that cause palpitations or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Altering your lifestyle to avoid triggers, like smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress, can help lower the number of instances of these irregular pulses.
Prevention
A person may experience no symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may be felt as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. These episodes can trigger an feeling of pressure or fullness, or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes happen because the heart is not pumping as efficiently as it normally does. Regular PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. a condition where the heart gets larger and is unable to pump blood.
PVCs often are caused by changes in body chemistry. This can be caused by the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones and alcohol consumption or caffeine. Stress or weight gain or the absence of exercise can trigger these symptoms.
Certain people find that a change in their diet can reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause disturbances in the heart rhythm, such as disodium guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627) and diazole sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get enough magnesium.
It is essential to have regular health check-ups, which include annual physicals and laboratory tests. These tests can help identify any heart conditions that may cause your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to a healthy eating plan and avoid smoking, which can 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 vascular catheter-related infections however, their self-assessment of compliance with these measures was poor. After a feedback intervention the compliance level improved on a few wards but was still low. This suggests that education on how to implement the preventive measures is necessary and that the wards that are not complying should be targeted for surveillance of infection. This information can then be used to help in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives on these wards. It is likely that this will require further education and training for staff. It is also necessary to ensure that the right tools for implementing the preventive measures are available.
Symptoms
If you feel like your heart is skipping beats or fluttering, it may be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they can be the sign of heart problems.
In healthy individuals, occasional PVCs aren't a problem and they generally disappear on their own. However, if you suffer from a lot of them, they can cause weakness or dizziness. If you're worried you might be experiencing dizziness or weakness, talk to your doctor about them. You might need to provide a medical history, and they might also perform an examination to identify the issue. They'll likely also need to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
An ECG is a quick test that lets your health care provider see the signal from your heartbeat moving through your heart for a short period of time. The test will determine if you have PVCs. Your doctor might also suggest the use of a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over a longer period of time. This can help distinguish PVCs from other types of arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You could also wear a portable device that records your heart rate over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor.
Other heart tests may be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For example a cardiologist could check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests can reveal the presence of a medical condition that is the cause of your PVCs or heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor may also have to perform tests on your blood to identify the issue with your electrolytes. For example, low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign that you suffer from PVCs or a different health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You could be referred to an electrophysiologist who treats abnormal heart rhythms. If you suffer from structural heart disease the specialist may have to perform additional tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine if you have damage to your heart and how severe it is. In certain cases, a doctor might suggest an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is creating your PVCs.
