Why It's Important to See a Doctor

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats usually aren't risky, and they may disappear on their own.

To diagnose PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital signs. They might recommend an Holter monitor which is a device that records the electrical impulses your heart produces over 24-48 hours. They can also request blood tests for checking your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.

Diagnosis

PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, which is a structure in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the heartbeat to be delayed and causes an experience of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can occur in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the condition known as ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Some people have no symptoms, while others experience heart palpitations. This can feel like the sound of a beating heart or a slurred heartbeat. Other signs include dizziness, fatigue, or feeling unwell.

Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a patient has frequent episodes, a doctor might recommend a change in the diet or lifestyle. For example restricting 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 about the patient's medical history and conduct a physical exam to check their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms over longer durations or an electrocardiogram which records a snapshot of the electrical activity of the heart. Doctors may order blood tests in some cases to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or drug toxicity.

A pvc doctor might refer a patient to an electrophysiologist or specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. The doctor will confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.

PVCs are everywhere and aren't usually harmful unless they are used regularly or for a long time. This can cause a weakening in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most prevalent in people who are older or those suffering from some form of heart disease. It can also happen to healthy people who have normal, normal heart. However, it is more common in those who exercise regularly. Usually, this isn't a serious concern, but it is important to speak with your doctor if you experience symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.

Treatment

PVCs aren't harmful or cause symptoms in a lot of people. They don't require treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or not making the beat, it's best to seek out a physician immediately.

A cardiologist will then interview you and then perform physical examinations, listening to your heart through an stethoscope to identify any irregular beats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical impulses of your heart, allowing you to identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified it is recommended to use a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor is required to capture the abnormal rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will assist doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the cause of them, such as an electrolyte imbalance, drug toxicity, or other factors.

You may be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is in good order and to look for structural issues that could cause PVCs. You might also be asked to take an exercise test to assess the response of your heart to exercise. Physical activity can increase your frequency of PVCs. You may also undergo blood tests to determine your thyroid, magnesium, and potassium hormone levels to find out if they are too low which could contribute to the development of PVCs.

If your doctor confirms that you have PVCs and has ruled any serious diseases out, the treatment option you choose will depend on how they affect your life and the frequency they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will suggest any medication to reduce the frequency or severity of them.

If you have frequent PVCs that can trigger palpitations or other symptoms such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your physician may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Altering your lifestyle to stay clear of triggers, such as smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can help lower the number of occurrences of these abnormal pulses.

The following is a list of preventions.

PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations which can feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in the chest. These episodes can trigger feelings of pressure or fullness, or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as effectively 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 often caused by changes in the body's chemical. This includes the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or excess weight and a lack of exercise, can trigger these episodes.

Certain people find that altering their diet can reduce the number of PVCs. For fitting instance, they can avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause a disturbance in the heartbeat, for example disodium Guanylate (E621), near disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to get sufficient magnesium.

Regular health checks are important, including yearly physicals. These tests can help you identify any heart-related conditions that could cause your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to an eat-healthy diet and refrain from smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.

A survey of 14 normal hospital wards found that healthcare workers were generally aware of preventive measures to avoid vascular catheter-associated infection, but their self-assessment of conformity to these procedures was not high. Compliance improved after feedback interventions however, it was still low on a few of the observed wards. This suggests that education is required on how to implement preventive measures, and those wards that are less conforming should be targeted for monitoring of infection. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely require additional education and training of personnel. It will also mean making sure that the appropriate materials are available for the implementing of the preventive measures.

Signs and symptoms

If you feel that your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it may be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be normal, or they could be a sign that you have heart issues that are serious.

In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't a problem and they generally disappear on their own. If you've got a lot of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. If you're worried about them, consult your doctor about the symptoms. They might need to diagnose the issue by taking an medical history and performing an examination. They'll also probably want to do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.

A quick ECG test will allow your doctor to observe the pulse of your heart 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 suggest a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over a longer amount of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You could also be wearing a device that can record your heart rate over 30 days, called an event monitor.

Other tests for the heart may be required, based on the reason behind your PVCs. A cardiologist may check your blood pressure or conduct an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These can help find if you have a issue that could be causing your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.

Your doctor might also need to run a blood test to see what's wrong with your electrolytes, like low potassium or high calcium levels. This could be a sign that you suffer from PVCs or a different health issue 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 conduct other tests if you have structural heart diseases like an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can determine if you have damage to your heart and how severe it is. In certain cases, a specialist might recommend an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying issue the cause of your PVCs.