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Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), are a type of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats aren't usually dangerous, and they can disappear on their own.
To determine PVC Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and check other vital signs. They might recommend a Holter monitor, a device that tracks your heart's electrical impulses over the course of 24 hours. They may also order blood tests to check your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses coming from the heart's lower chambers, or ventricles, misfire through a structure called the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing the sensation of fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen in one pattern or repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive PVCs.
While some people don't show any symptoms, others feel palpitations, that can be felt as an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other typical symptoms include fatigue, dizziness or a sensation of being sick.
Many people who have occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a doctor may recommend a change to diet or lifestyle. For example the restriction of caffeine, stress, and alcohol. They may also prescribe medications like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers which can lower the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and perform an examination to determine their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor, which is worn for longer time periods and records the heart's rhythms over time. In certain cases doctors may require blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
A pvc doctor may refer a patient to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are malignant or benign.
PVCs are everywhere and aren't usually harmful when used frequently or for a long time. This could lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common for people over the age of 65 or those with some form of heart disease. It can also occur to healthy people who have a normal, normal heart. However, it's more common in those who regularly exercise. Usually, this isn't an issue that is serious, but it is important to consult an expert if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
PVCs are not harmful and do not cause symptoms in a lot of people. They don't require treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or not making an entire beat, you need to consult a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist will then interview you and perform a physical examination by listening to your heart with a stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical signals of your heart to detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been identified then an portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to record the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the reason behind them, such as an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity, or other factors.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to assess whether your heart is in good health and check for indications of structural issues which could cause PVCs. You may also be asked to take stress tests to assess how your heart reacts to exercise. Physical activity can increase your frequency of PVCs. You can also get blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium and other hormones to see if they're too low. This can lead to PVCs.
Once your doctor has confirmed that you're suffering from PVCs and has ruled out any serious illnesses and has made a decision about how 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 happen only infrequently and do not cause symptoms the doctor is not likely to prescribe any medication that can reduce their frequency or severity.
If you experience frequent PVCs that cause palpitations and other symptoms, such as light-headedness or feeling like you're going to faint, your doctor might recommend medications like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, like avoiding caffeine, smoking, and excessive stress can reduce the frequency of these irregular pulses.
Prevention
A person may experience no symptoms at all from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that can be felt as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. These episodes can cause an feeling of pressure or fullness, or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart isn't functioning as efficiently as it should. Frequent PVCs increase the risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. a condition in which the heart gets larger and is not able to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in the body's chemistry. These include the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, as well as drinking caffeine or alcohol. Inactivity can trigger these episodes like stress or excess weight.
Some people can find that a change in diet helps reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods with preservatives, which can cause disturbances in the heart rhythm, such as disodium guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to get enough magnesium.
Regular health checks are important and include annual physicals. These tests can help identify any heart issues that could be causing your PVCs. You should also follow an eat-healthy diet and avoid smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
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Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or to flutter. window doctor can be harmless or they can be a sign of serious heart problems.
In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't a problem and they generally disappear on their own. If you have many of them, it can cause dizziness or weakness. Talk to your doctor if you're concerned. They might need to diagnose the issue by taking a medical history and performing a physical exam. They might also need to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
An ECG is a quick test that lets your health care provider observe the signal generated by your heartbeat as it moves through your heart in a short duration. If you have PVCs, they will show on the test. Your doctor might also want to do a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat for longer durations of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You might also carry a device that records your heart's rhythm over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor.
Other tests for the heart may be required, based on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist may check your blood pressure or conduct an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests will determine whether you are suffering from an illness like heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also need to perform tests on your blood to identify the problem with electrolytes. For example, low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could indicate that you suffer from PVCs or a different health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You could be directed to an electrophysiologist, one of the specialists who specialize in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal. The doctor may be required to perform other tests if you suffer from heart conditions that cause structural damage like an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will determine whether your heart is damaged and the severity of the damage. In some cases, the specialist might suggest an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is causing your PVCs.