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Why It's Important to See a Doctor Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats aren't usually dangerous, and they can go away by themselves. To diagnose PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat and check other vital indicators. They might recommend an Holter monitor, a device that records your heart's electrical impulses over the course of 24 hours. They may also request blood tests to check the levels of electrolytes and thyroid hormones. Diagnosis PVCs happen when electrical impulses from the lower chambers of the heart ventricles misfire through a structure known as the SA node. This causes the heartbeat to be delayed, causing the feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can occur in one pattern or repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, while three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the condition known as ventricular Tachycardia (VT). Some people do not experience any symptoms, but others experience heart palpitations. This can feel like a pounding heartbeat or a slurred heartbeat. Other common symptoms are tiredness or dizziness, or a feeling of being sick. Many people who suffer from occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors might suggest a change in diet or lifestyle like limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They might prescribe beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that lower blood pressure and slow 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 an image of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor that is worn for longer time periods and records the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may require blood tests in some cases to look for imbalances in electrolytes or toxic effects of drugs. A pvc doctor may refer a patient to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. The doctor will confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not. PVCs are frequent and usually don't cause any problems unless they happen frequently over a long period of time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most prevalent in older people, or those who have some form of heart disease. It can also occur to healthy people who have normal, normal heart. However, it is more prevalent in people who exercise regularly. Most of the time, this isn't an issue to worry about, but it is important to tell your doctor if you experience symptoms such as fainting or fatigue. Treatment PVCs aren't harmful or cause any symptoms in the majority of people. They don't require treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or skipping an entire beat, you need to see a doctor right away. A cardiologist will first interview you and conduct an examination of your body and listen to your heart with the stethoscope in order to detect any irregular beats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) done that records the electrical impulses in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified then the use of a portable ECG or 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to document the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices can help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and their causes like an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other causes. An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to assess whether your heart is in good health and look for any indications of structural issues that can lead to PVCs. You might also be asked to take an exercise test to determine the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase your frequency of pvcs. You may also be able to have blood tests to check your thyroid, magnesium, and potassium hormone levels to determine if they are too low and can cause the development of PVCs. If your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs, and has ruled any serious illness out, the decision to treat them will depend on how they affect your life and how often they occur. If they occur only occasionally and do not cause any symptoms then your doctor is unlikely to recommend any medication to reduce their frequency or severity. If, however, you suffer from frequent PVCs that cause heart palpitations, as well as other symptoms like lightheadedness or feeling like you're going to faint, your physician may suggest medications for you, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changing your lifestyle to stay clear of triggers, such as caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can aid in reducing the frequency of instances of these unusual pulses. Prevention PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations that can feel like “skipped beats” or flutterings in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger a fullness or pressure in the chest, and at other times they can make a person feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart is not pumping as effectively as normal. Frequent PVCs increase the risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart enlarges and is unable to pump blood. PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical. This includes the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, as well as drinking caffeine or alcohol. Stress or excess weight, as well as the absence of exercise can trigger these episodes. Some people have found that a change in their diet helps reduce their PVCs. They can, for instance avoid foods that contain preservatives which can cause a disturbance of the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and diazole, and disodium inosinate sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to take in more fruits and vegetables to ensure they're getting enough potassium and magnesium. Regular health checks are essential, including yearly physicals. These tests can help identify any heart issues which could be causing your PVCs. Also, you should not smoke and adhere to an appropriate diet program. This could increase the frequency of episodes. A survey of 14 normal hospital wards showed that healthcare personnel were generally aware of preventive measures for infections caused by vascular catheters, however their self-assessment of compliance to these procedures was not high. After a feedback program, compliance improved on some areas, but was still very low. This suggests that training is needed on how to implement preventive measures, and that wards that are less compliant need to be targeted for monitoring of infection. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will most likely require additional education and training of personnel. It will also involve making sure that the correct materials are available for the implementation of preventive measures. Signs and symptoms If you feel your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it could be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they could be the sign of heart problems. In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They typically disappear on their own. If you have many of them, it can cause dizziness or weakening. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned. You may need to give a medical history, and they might also perform an examination to diagnose the problem. They'll also probably want to conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests. A quick ECG test lets your doctor see the heartbeat signal moving through your body for a the course of a brief period. window doctor near me will show whether you have PVCs. Your doctor might also suggest a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over a longer amount of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You may also carry a device that can record your heart rate over 30 days, called an event monitor. Other heart tests might be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure, or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These can help find the presence of a medical issue that could be the cause of your PVCs, such as cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure. Your doctor might also need to conduct a blood test to see what is wrong with your electrolytes, such as low potassium or high calcium levels. This could be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, such as anxiety disorders and anemia. You may be referred to an electrophysiologist who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. The doctor may be required to perform other tests if you are suffering from heart conditions that cause structural damage like an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether your heart has been damaged and the severity of the damage. In certain cases, a specialist might recommend the use of a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying issue causing your PVCs.