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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 typically not dangerous and may disappear on their own. To determine PVC doctors listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital indicators. They might order an Holter Monitor, which records the electrical impulses of your heart over a period of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to assess the levels of electrolytes and thyroid hormones. Diagnosis PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that misfire through the SA node, which is a structure in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to delay, which can cause a feeling like racing or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Doublets are PVCs that occur in a series of. Ventricular tachycardia can be described as three or more consecutive PVCs. Some people do not experience any symptoms, but others experience heart palpitations. It could be an unsteady heartbeat or a slurred heartbeat. Other signs are dizziness, fatigue or a feeling of being unwell. Many people who experience occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a physician might suggest a change in the diet or lifestyle. For example restricting caffeine and stress as well as alcohol. They may also prescribe medications, such as calcium channel blockers or beta-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 employ 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 request blood tests in some instances to check for electrolyte imbalances or toxic substances in the body. Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer someone to a specialist in heart rhythm problems, or an electrophysiologist, for further evaluation. This doctor can confirm a diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or malignant. PVCs are everywhere and are not usually harmful unless they are used frequently or for a long time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more prevalent in older adults or people suffering from heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with a normal heart, although it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. It is not a major condition, but you should tell your doctor if symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur. Treatment PVCs aren't harmful or cause any symptoms in the majority of people. They don't require treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or slurring the beat, it's best to seek out a physician immediately. A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and doing a physical exam, monitoring your heart using an stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed that records the electrical signals in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found it is recommended to have a 24-hour Holter monitor or other portable ECG will be required to detect the irregular 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, drug toxicity or other causes. You might be requested to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is in good order and to look for structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You might also have an exercise test to determine how your heart responds to exercise, as physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also take blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium and other hormones to determine whether they're insufficient. This could lead to PVCs. If your doctor has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled any serious illnesses out, the treatment option you choose will depend on how they affect your life and how frequently they occur. If they happen only infrequently and don't cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any treatment to reduce their frequency or severity. However, if you have frequent PVCs that cause palpitations and other symptoms, such as feeling lightheaded or like you're about to faint, your doctor might suggest medication like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes like cutting down on smoking, caffeine and stress levels that are excessive can reduce the frequency of these irregular pulses. Prevention A person might not experience any symptoms at all from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can feel like “skipped” beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger the chest to feel full or swollen in the chest. Other times, they can cause a person to feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart isn't pumping as effectively as normal. Frequent PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition wherein the heart expands and is unable to pump blood. PVCs are usually caused by changes in the body's chemistry. This can be caused by the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or weight gain, as well as an insufficient amount of exercise can trigger these episodes. Some people have found that a change in their diet helps to reduce their PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause a disturbance in the heart rhythm, such as disodium guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627) diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and vegetables to get enough magnesium. Regular health checks are essential, including yearly physicals. These can help diagnose any heart issues which could be causing your PVCs. You should also follow a healthy eating plan and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes. A survey of healthcare staff on 14 normal hospital wards revealed that they were aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat infections caused by vascular catheters However, their self-assessed compliance with these guidelines was low. Compliance improved following feedback interventions, but was still low on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that education is needed on how to implement preventive measures and those wards that are less conforming should be targeted for monitoring of infection. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will most likely require more education and training for staff. It will also require making sure that the correct materials are available for the implementation of the preventive measures. Symptoms If you feel that your heart is skipping beats or fluttering, it may be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias can be harmless, but they could indicate you have serious heart problems. In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They usually disappear on their own. But if you have several of them, they may cause dizziness or weakness. If you're concerned, talk to your doctor about the symptoms. You might be required to provide your medical history and they might also perform an examination of the body to identify the issue. They may also want to conduct an electrocardiogram or other tests. An ECG is a simple test that allows your health care provider detect the signal of your heartbeat as it moves through your heart in an extremely short period of period of time. If you have PVCs, they will show on 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 differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, a handheld device that tracks your heart's rhythm over 30 days. Other heart tests may be required, depending on the reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure or conduct an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can determine whether you have a condition like heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, or cardiomyopathy. Your doctor may also be required to run a blood test to determine the issue with electrolytes. For instance, you may have 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 may be referred to an electrophysiologist who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. The specialist might need to conduct additional tests if you are suffering from heart conditions that cause structural damage, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can determine if you have damage to your heart, and how serious it is. In some instances doctors may suggest an implanted pacemaker to treat the condition which is causing the PVCs.