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Why It's Important to See a Doctor Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs), are a type of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are usually not hazardous, and they could disappear by themselves. To determine PVC doctors listen to your heartbeat and check other vital indicators. They may order an Holter monitor which is a device that records the electrical impulses your heart produces over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones. Diagnosis PVCs happen when electrical impulses from the heart's lower chambers ventricles, or lower chambers, fail to pass through a structure known as the SA node. This delays the next heartbeat which can cause an experience of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can occur in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the term ventricular Tachycardia (VT). Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, while others experience palpitations. It can be felt as the sound of a beating heart or a slurred heartbeat. Other symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, or a feeling that you're unwell. Many people who experience occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If a patient is experiencing frequent episodes, a doctor might recommend a change in diet or lifestyle. For example the restriction of caffeine, stress, and alcohol. They might prescribe medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate. Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and perform a physical examination to assess their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture 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 certain cases to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or toxic effects of drugs. A pvc doctor may refer a patient to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. This specialist can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not. PVCs can be found everywhere and are not usually harmful when used frequently or for long periods of time. This can cause a weakening in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiac myopathy. It is more common for people over the age of 65 or those suffering from any form of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with normal heart function, but this is more likely for those who exercise regularly. Most of the time, this isn't a serious concern, but it is important to tell a doctor if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue. Treatment PVCs aren't harmful or cause symptoms in many people. They do not require treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or not making a beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately. A cardiologist will first interview you and perform a physical examination and listen to your heart through an stethoscope to identify any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical signals of your heart, allowing you to identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is found, an all-day Holter monitor or a portable ECG will be required to record the irregular rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices can help doctors determine whether you have PVCs, and their cause like an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other causes. An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to assess if your heart is healthy and check for indications of structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You might also have a stress test to see how your heart responds to exercise, since physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also have blood tests to test your thyroid hormone as well as potassium, magnesium and other hormones to see whether they're low. This could cause PVCs. Once your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs and has ruled out any serious illnesses, the decision on whether to treat them will depend on how much they're impacting your life and how often they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will prescribe any medication to reduce the frequency or severity of them. If the window doctor are experiencing frequent PVCs that cause heart palpitations, or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to stay clear of triggers, such as smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress, can help lower the number of times you experience these abnormal pulses. Prevention A person may experience no symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may feel like “skipped” beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. These episodes can trigger a feeling of pressure or fullness, or make you feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as effectively as it should. Frequent PVCs increase the risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart expands and becomes ineffective at pump blood. PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry. These include the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, in addition to drinking caffeine or alcohol. Stress or excess weight or an insufficient amount of exercise can trigger these episodes. Some people can find that a change in their diet helps reduce their PVCs. For example, they can avoid foods with preservatives, which can cause a disturbance to the heart rhythm, such as disodium Guanylate (E621), disodium inosinate (E627), and diazole sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get sufficient magnesium. Regular health checks are important as are annual physicals. These tests can help you identify any heart-related conditions that 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 workers on 14 normal hospital wards showed that they were generally aware of the preventive measures for vascular catheter-related infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these measures was not great. Compliance improved following an intervention to improve feedback however, it was still lower on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that education on how to implement the preventive measures is essential and that the wards which are less compliant should be targeted for infection surveillance. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will most likely require additional education and training of staff. It will also require making sure that the appropriate materials are in place for the implementation of preventive measures. Symptoms If you feel your heart is racing or fluttering, it could be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless, but they could indicate you have heart issues that are serious. In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They generally disappear by themselves. However, if you suffer from a lot of them, they may cause dizziness or weakness. Speak to your doctor if you are concerned. You may need to give an medical history, and they may also conduct a physical examination in order to diagnose the problem. They'll likely also need to conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests. An ECG is a simple test that lets your health care provider see the signal from your heartbeat moving through your heart over the course of a brief time. If you have PVCs, they'll be visible in the test. Your doctor might also want to do a 24- or 48-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat for longer durations of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a portable device which records your heart rhythm for 30 days. Other heart tests may be required, based on the reason behind your PVCs. A cardiologist may check your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). This can help determine whether you suffer from a issue that could be responsible for your PVCs or heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse or heart failure. Your doctor may also have to run an analysis of your blood to determine what the problem is with your electrolytes, for example, low potassium levels or high calcium levels. This can be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, such as anemia and anxiety disorders. You may be referred an electrophysiologist who treats abnormal heart rhythms. If you suffer from structural heart disease the specialist may have to perform additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can tell if you have damage to your heart and how severe it is. In some cases, a specialist may recommend a pacemaker to treat the condition that causes the PVCs.