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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 dangerous and can disappear on their own. Doctors will monitor your heartbeat, and check other vitals signs. They might recommend an Holter monitor which tracks your heart's electrical impulses over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They may also order blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones. Diagnosis PVCs are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, a structure located in the lower chambers of the heart. This delays the next heartbeat, causing the feeling of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can be seen as a single event or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive ones. Some people have no symptoms, while others experience heart palpitations. This can feel like the sound of a beating heart or a rapid heartbeat. Other common symptoms are tiredness and dizziness, as well as a feeling of being sick. Many people who have occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors could suggest a change to lifestyle or diet like limiting caffeine, alcohol and stress. They may also prescribe medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers, which can slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure. Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and do a physical exam to determine their general health. They may also utilize a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms for longer durations, or an electrocardiogram, which takes a snapshot at the electrical activity within the heart. In certain instances doctors may require blood tests to look for an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs. A pvc physician may refer a patient to an electrophysiologist or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not. PVCs are everywhere and aren't usually harmful unless they are used regularly or for long periods of time. This could lead to a weakening of the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more common in people who are older or those suffering from any form of heart disease. This can happen to healthy people with normal, normal hearts. However, it is more prevalent among those who regularly exercise. Usually, this isn't an issue that is serious but it's important to speak with your doctor if you experience symptoms like fainting or fatigue. Treatment For many, occasional PVCs might not cause symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. However, for those who do experience a sensation like your heart is lagging an beat or is racing, it's vital to see a doctor as soon as possible. A cardiologist will first interview you and then perform an examination of your body and listen to your heart through the stethoscope in order to detect any irregular heartbeats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) done to record the electrical impulses in your heart and identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected, you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or another portable ECG will be required to record the abnormal rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices will assist doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the underlying cause for them, like an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicities, or other causes. You might be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is in good shape and to check for structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You could also be asked to undergo stress tests to find out how your heart reacts to exercise. Exercise can increase your frequency of pvcs. You may also undergo blood tests to check your thyroid, magnesium, and potassium hormone levels to find out whether they are insufficient which could contribute to the formation of PVCs. Once your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs and has eliminated any serious illness, the decision on whether or not to treat them will depend on how much they're impacting your life and how often they occur. If they happen only infrequently and don't cause any symptoms the doctor is not likely to recommend any treatment to decrease their frequency or severity. If you experience frequent PVCs that trigger palpitations and other symptoms, like lightheadedness or feeling like you're going to faint, your physician may suggest medications like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to stay clear of triggers, such as caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can aid in reducing the frequency of occurrences of these abnormal pulses. The following is a list of preventions. A person may experience no symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that can feel like “skipped” beats or fluttering in the chest. These episodes can trigger feelings of fullness or pressure, or they may cause you to feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as effectively as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased risk of developing dilated cardiac myopathy. This is a condition where the heart becomes enlarged and is unable to pump blood. PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemistry. This can be caused by the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, as well drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or excess weight, as well as a lack of exercise, can trigger these episodes. window doctors find that a change in their diet can reduce their PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause disturbances in the heartbeat, for example disodium guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627) and diazole sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to get sufficient magnesium. Regular health checks are important as are annual physicals. These tests can help diagnose any heart conditions that may be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to 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 showed that healthcare personnel were generally aware of preventive measures to avoid infections caused by vascular catheters, however their self-assessed conformity to these guidelines was low. After a feedback program, compliance improved on some areas, but was still very low. This suggests that training on how to implement preventive measures is required and that the wards that are not complying should be targeted for infection surveillance. This information can be used to help in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will likely involve additional training and education for personnel. It will also be important to ensure that the right tools for implementing the preventive measures are available. Signs and symptoms The premature contraction of the ventricular muscle can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or to flutter. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they can be an indication of serious heart issues. In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not an issue. They generally disappear by themselves. If you've got many of them, it can cause dizziness or weakness. If you're worried you might be experiencing dizziness or weakness, talk to your doctor about the symptoms. You might need to provide an medical history, and they might also perform an examination to identify the issue. They might also conduct an electrocardiogram or other tests. A quick ECG test will allow your doctor to observe the signal of your heartbeat going through your body over a an extremely short time. If you have PVCs, they'll be visible on the test. Your doctor might also suggest a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over a longer period of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias which cause heart palpitations. You could also carry a device that can record your heart rhythm over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor. Other tests for your heart might be required, based on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist can check your blood pressure, or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These can help find the presence of a medical issue that could be causing your PVCs or heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse or heart failure. Your doctor may also have to run a blood test to determine the issue with your electrolytes. For instance, you may have low potassium levels or a high level of calcium. This could be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, like anxiety disorders and anemia. You could be referred to a specialist in electrophysiology, who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. This specialist may need to conduct other tests if you are suffering from heart conditions that cause structural damage like an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will help determine whether your heart is damaged and how severe the damage is. In some cases, the doctor may recommend an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying condition that's the cause of your PVCs.