Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs), are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not harmful and will be cured by themselves.
Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and also check other vitals indicators. They may also order an Holter Monitor, which captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a time of 24 to 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses from the heart's lower chambers ventricles, or lower chambers, fail to pass through a structure called the SA node. This causes the heartbeat to be delayed and causes the feeling of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can occur in one pattern or repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the term ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people have no symptoms, while others experience palpitations. This can feel like a pounding heartbeat or a slurred heartbeat. Other typical symptoms include fatigue and dizziness, as well as a feeling of being sick.
Many people who experience occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a person has frequent episodes, double glazing doctors might recommend a change in lifestyle or diet, such as limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They may prescribe medication such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will inquire about the patient's medical history and do a physical exam to assess their general health. They may also employ an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take an image of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor, which is worn for longer time periods door and window doctor monitors the heart's rhythms over time. In some cases, doctors may order blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm problems, or an electrophysiologist, for further evaluation. This double glazing doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or malignant.
PVCs are all over the place and are not usually harmful when used frequently or for long periods of time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc doctor-induced cardiac myopathy. This is most common in people who are older or those suffering from any form of heart disease. It can also happen to healthy individuals with normal, normal hearts. However, it is more prevalent among those who regularly exercise. Most of the time, this isn't a serious concern, but it is important to tell an expert if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many, occasional PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or not making an entire beat, you need to seek out a physician immediately.
A cardiologist will start by conducting an interview and then perform a an examination of your body, monitoring your heart using the stethoscope to look for irregular heartbeats. You'll also undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical impulses of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been detected then a portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor is required to document the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and their causes, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, toxic drugs or other causes.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to assess if your heart is healthy and to look for signs of structural problems that can lead to PVCs. You might also have an exercise test to determine how your heart reacts to exercise, since physical exercise can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also have blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium and other hormones to determine whether they're insufficient. This could cause PVCs.
Once your doctor has confirmed that you're suffering from PVCs and has ruled out any serious diseases, the decision on how to treat them will be contingent on how much they're impacting your life and the frequency at which they occur. If they occur only occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will recommend any medication to decrease their frequency or severity.
If you have frequent PVCs, which can cause heart palpitations, or other symptoms such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your physician may prescribe medication such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, such as cutting down on smoking, caffeine and stress, can also decrease the frequency of these irregular pulses.
Prevention
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations which can be described as "skipped beats" or flutters in your chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause a fullness or pressure in the chest, and other occasions, they may cause a person to feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart becomes enlarged and unable to pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemistry. These include the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. A lack of exercise can trigger these symptoms like stress or excess weight.
Some people have found that a change in their diet helps reduce their PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods with preservatives, which can cause a disturbance in the heart rhythm, such as disodium Guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627), and diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get enough magnesium.
Regular health checks are important and include annual physicals. These tests can help identify any heart-related conditions that could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to not smoke and adhere to the healthy eating plan. This can increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of healthcare workers on 14 wards of a normal hospital revealed that they were aware of the preventive measures to avoid infections caused by vascular catheters however, their self-assessment of compliance with these guidelines was low. The compliance improved following an intervention to improve feedback, but was still low on a few of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that training on the best ways to implement preventive measures is essential, and that those wards which are less compliant should be targeted for surveillance of infection. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely involve additional education and training for staff. It is also necessary to ensure that the right tools for implementing the preventive measures are readily available.
Signs and symptoms
If you feel like your heart is racing or fluttering, it may be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they may be a sign of serious heart issues.
In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not any problem. They typically disappear on their own. But if you have many of them, they may lead to dizziness or weakness. Speak to your doctor if concerned. They may need to determine the problem by taking an medical history and conducting an examination. They may also want to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
A quick ECG test allows your double glazing doctor to see the heartbeat signal moving through your body over an extremely short time. The test will show if you have PVCs. Your doctor might also want to do a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat over longer periods of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You could also wear a portable device that can record your heart's rhythm over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor.
Other tests for your heart might be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For instance a cardiologist could check your blood pressure and do an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). This can help determine if you have a condition that is responsible for your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor may also be required to conduct an examination of your blood to determine 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 a different condition such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You may be directed to an electrophysiologist, a specialist who specializes in treating irregular heart rhythms. If you have heart disease that is structural the specialist may have to do other tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will help determine if your heart is damaged and how severe the damage is. In some instances, the doctor might recommend a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying issue creating your PVCs.
