Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs), are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not dangerous, and they can go away on their own.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat, and check other vitals signs. They might recommend an Holter monitor, a device that tracks your heart's electrical impulses over 24-48 hours. They can also request blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that reverberate through the SA node, which is a structure in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing the sensation of the heart is fluttering or skips beats. PVCs can be seen in one pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the term ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, whereas others experience palpitations. It can be felt as an unsteady heartbeat or a rapid heartbeat. window doctor near me Repair My Windows And Doors are dizziness, fatigue or feeling unwell.
Many people who have occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a doctor might suggest a change in diet or lifestyle. For instance restricting caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They may also prescribe medication such as calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers, which can slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will inquire about the patient's medical history and conduct a physical exam to check their general health. They can also employ a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms over a longer period of time or an electrocardiogram which records a snapshot of the electrical activity within the heart. In some cases, doctors may order blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor may refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm problems or an electrophysiologist for further evaluation. This doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or malignant.
PVCs are common and don't usually cause any issues, unless they happen frequently over a long period of time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiac myopathy. This is more prevalent in older people or those suffering from heart disease. This can happen to healthy individuals with normal, normal hearts. However, it is more common in those who exercise regularly. Usually, this isn't a serious concern however it is crucial to speak with your doctor if you experience symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many people, sporadic PVCs may not cause any symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. However, for those who feel your heart is lagging a beat or is racing, it's important to see a doctor as soon as you can.
A cardiologist will begin 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 that records the electrical signals of your heart, allowing you to identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been detected, the use of a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to document the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you have PVCs, and their cause, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other causes.
An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to assess whether your heart is in good health and look for any signs of structural problems that could lead to PVCs. You might also have a stress test to check how your heart reacts to exercise, as physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You may also be able to have blood tests to assess your thyroid, magnesium, and potassium hormone levels to determine if they are too low which could contribute to the formation of PVCs.
Once your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs and has eliminated any serious illnesses, the decision on whether or not to treat them will be based on the extent to which they impact your life and how frequently they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will prescribe any medication to decrease their frequency or severity.
If you have frequent PVCs that cause palpitations or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your physician may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changing your lifestyle to avoid triggers, like smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress, can aid in reducing the frequency of occurrences of these unusual pulses.
Prevention
There are people who do not experience symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can appear as "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. These episodes can create a feeling of fullness or pressure, or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. The frequent PVCs increase the risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart gets larger and is not able to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry. This includes the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline, as well drinking alcohol or caffeine. Lack of exercise can trigger these episodes like stress or excessive weight.
Some people can find that a change in their diet helps to reduce their PVCs. They can, for example, avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and diazole, and disodium inosinate sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium.
Regular health checks are crucial as are annual physicals. These tests can help you identify any heart conditions that may cause your PVCs. You should also not smoke and adhere to the healthy eating plan. This can increase the frequency of episodes.
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Signs and symptoms
If you feel your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it may be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be harmless, or they could indicate that you are suffering from serious heart issues.
In healthy individuals, occasional PVCs aren't an issue and they usually disappear by themselves. If you've got many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. Talk to your doctor if you're concerned. You may need to give a medical history, and they may also conduct an examination of the body to determine the cause. They'll likely also need to do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A short ECG test lets your doctor see the pulse of your heart moving through your body for a an extremely short time. If you have PVCs, they will show on the test. Your doctor may also decide to do a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat for longer durations of time. This can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias which cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a portable device which tracks your heart's rhythm over 30 days.
Other heart tests may be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For example an cardiologist may test your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These tests can tell if you suffer from a condition such as heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also have to conduct a blood test to determine the problem with your electrolytes. For instance, a low level of potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that may cause them, such as anemia and anxiety disorders.
You might be directed to an electrophysiologist, one of the specialists who specialize in treating abnormal heart rhythms. If you have heart disease that is structural, this specialist might need to perform additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can tell whether you've damaged your heart, and how serious it is. In some cases doctors may suggest pacemakers to treat the issue that causes the PVCs.