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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 go away on their own. Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and also check other vital signs. They may also order a Holter Monitor which records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a time of 24 to 48 hours. They might also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones. Diagnosis PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that misfire through the SA node, a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to delay, which can cause the sensation of racing or skipped beats. PVCs can occur in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, while three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the term ventricular tachycardia (VT). Some people don't experience any symptoms at all Others experience heart palpitations which can feel like an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other symptoms are dizziness, fatigue or a feeling of being unwell. Many people who experience occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a physician might suggest a change in the diet or lifestyle. For example restricting caffeine, stress, and alcohol. They can prescribe medication such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that 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 can also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor, which is worn for longer periods and captures the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may order blood tests in some cases to check for electrolyte imbalances or toxic substances in the body. A pvc physician may refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. This doctor can confirm a diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are malignant or benign. PVCs are fairly common and don't usually cause any issues, unless they occur frequently over a long period of time. This could lead to a weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more prevalent in older adults or those suffering from heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with normal heart function, but this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. Most of the time, this isn't an issue to worry about but it's important to consult an expert if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue. Treatment For many people, occasional PVCs may not cause any symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. But when you feel their heart has skipped the beat or is racing, it's crucial to speak to a doctor as soon as possible. A cardiologist will then interview you and then perform a physical examination and listen to your heart with the stethoscope in order to detect any irregular beats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical signals of your heart, allowing you to identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been detected, a portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor is required to document the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the reason for them, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other causes. You may be required to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine whether your heart health is in good order and to look for structural problems that could cause PVCs. You may also undergo a stress test to check how your heart responds to physical exercise can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also have blood tests to determine your magnesium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels to determine whether they are low which could contribute to the development of PVCs. If your doctor confirms that you have PVCs, and has ruled any serious illnesses out, the treatment you choose to take will depend on how they affect your life and how often they occur. If they happen only infrequently and do not cause symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to prescribe any medication that can decrease their frequency or severity. If you are experiencing frequent PVCs that cause pulses or other symptoms, like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor might prescribe medications like 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 may be described as “skipped beats” or flutters in your chest. Sometimes, these episodes 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. The frequent PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart expands and becomes ineffective at pump blood. PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemistry. This is due to the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones and alcohol consumption or caffeine. Stress or excess weight, as well as a lack of exercise, can trigger these symptoms. Certain people find that changing their diet can help reduce the amount of PVCs. They can, for example, avoid foods that contain preservatives that could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium Guanylate, disodium Inosinate, and diazole sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium. Regular health checks are essential as are annual physicals. These can help diagnose any underlying heart conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. the window doctor near me is also recommended to adhere to a healthy eating plan and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes. A survey of healthcare professionals on 14 normal hospital wards found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat vascular catheter-related infections however, their self-assessment of compliance with these practices was low. After a feedback intervention the compliance level improved on a few wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that training is required to implement preventive measures and that wards that are less than compliant should be targeted for infection monitoring. This information could be used to help in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives on these wards. This will likely require further education and training for personnel. It will also mean making sure that the correct tools are available for implementation of the preventive measures. Symptoms If you feel that your heart is racing or fluttering, it may be premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be harmless, or they could indicate that you have heart issues that are serious. In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't a problem and they usually disappear on their own. If you've got many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakening. Speak to your doctor if you are concerned. They might need to diagnose the issue by taking an history of your medical condition and conducting an examination. They'll likely also need to conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests. An ECG is a test that's quick that lets your health care provider detect the signal of your heartbeat as it moves through your heart in an extremely short period of time. If you have PVCs, they'll show up in the test. Your doctor might also want to conduct a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat over longer periods of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You may also carry a device that records your heart's rhythm over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor. Other heart tests might be needed, depending on the reason for your PVCs. For example a cardiologist could check your blood pressure and do an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests can tell if you suffer from an issue like heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy. Your doctor may also have to conduct an analysis of your blood to determine what's wrong with your electrolytes like low potassium or high levels of calcium. This could indicate that you suffer from PVCs, or another condition such as anemia or anxiety disorders. You could be referred to a specialist in electrophysiology, who treats abnormal heart rhythms. This specialist may need to conduct other tests if you are suffering from structural heart diseases, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will determine whether your heart is damaged and how severe it is. In some instances an expert may recommend a pacemaker to treat the issue that is causing the PVCs.