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Why It's Important to See a Doctor Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are generally not dangerous and may go away by themselves. To determine PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They might recommend a Holter monitor which records your heart's electrical impulses over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They might also order blood tests to assess your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones. Diagnosis PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that misfire through the SA node, which is a structure located in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to a feeling like the heart is fluttering or skips beats. PVCs can be seen as a single event, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as ventricular tachycardia (VT). Some people don't experience any symptoms whatsoever Others experience heart palpitations which could feel like a pounding or skipping heartbeat. Other typical symptoms include fatigue and dizziness, as well as a feeling of being unwell. Many people with occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If a patient is experiencing frequent episodes, a doctor might suggest a change in the diet or lifestyle. For instance, limiting caffeine or stress, as well as alcohol. They may also prescribe medications, such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure. Doctors will inquire about the medical history of the patient and perform a physical examination to determine their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms over longer periods of time or an electrocardiogram which captures a picture of the electrical activity in the heart. In some cases doctors may require blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity. Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer someone to a specialist in heart rhythm issues, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. This specialist can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not. PVCs can be found everywhere and are generally not harmful when used frequently or for long periods of time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle, or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more prevalent in older adults or those suffering from heart disease. It can also happen to healthy people with a normal, normal heart. However, it's more common in those who exercise regularly. This is not a serious condition, but you should consult your physician if you notice symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur. Treatment For many people, occasional PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or are harmless and need no treatment. However, for those who do feel their heart has skipped a beat or is racing, it's important to see a doctor immediately. A cardiologist begins by conducting an interview and then perform a physical examination, and listening to your heart with an stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical signals of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified then a 24-hour Holter monitor or a portable ECG is required to record the irregular rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine whether you have PVCs, and their cause, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other factors. You may be requested to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine if your heart health is good and to look for structural issues that could cause PVCs. You may also be asked to undergo an exercise test to assess how your heart reacts to exercise. Exercise can increase the frequency of pvcs. You can also have blood tests to check your thyroid, potassium, and magnesium hormone levels to find out whether they are insufficient which could contribute to the development of PVCs. If your doctor confirms that you have PVCs and has ruled any serious diseases out, the treatment you choose to take will depend on how they affect your life and how frequently they occur. If double glazing doctor happen only infrequently and don't cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any treatment that will reduce their frequency or severity. If you have frequent PVCs that cause heart palpitations, or other symptoms such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your physician may prescribe medication such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changing your lifestyle to avoid triggers, like smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can help lower the number of occurrences of these irregular pulses. Prevention A person might not experience any symptoms whatsoever from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can feel like “skipped” beats or fluttering in the chest. These episodes can cause feelings of pressure or fullness, or they can make you feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as effectively as it should. PVCs are associated with an increased chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart expands and becomes is unable to pump blood. PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical. These include the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, in addition to drinking caffeine or alcohol. Stress or weight gain and a lack of exercise, can trigger these episodes. Certain people find that a change in their diet can reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods that contain preservatives which could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, diazole, and disodium Inosinate sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get enough magnesium. Regular health checks are crucial and include annual physicals. These tests can help identify any heart issues that could be causing your PVCs. You should also follow an eat-healthy diet and avoid smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes. A survey of 14 normal hospital wards revealed that healthcare personnel were generally aware of preventive measures to avoid vascular catheter-associated infection, but their self-assessment of compliance to these guidelines was low. Compliance improved following a feedback intervention however it was still very lower on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that training is required on how to implement preventive measures and those wards that are less conforming should be targeted for infection monitoring. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely involve more training and education for personnel. It will also be necessary to ensure that the appropriate tools for implementing the preventive measures are in place. Signs and symptoms The premature contraction of the ventricular muscle can cause your heart to skip beats or be fluttering. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they can be a sign of serious heart issues. In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't an issue and they usually disappear on their own. If you're suffering from several of them, they may lead to dizziness or weakness. If you're concerned you might be experiencing dizziness or weakness, talk to your doctor about the symptoms. You might be required to provide a medical history, and they might also perform an examination of the body to determine the cause. They might also conduct an electrocardiogram, 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 duration. If you have PVCs, they will show on the test. Your doctor may also suggest to conduct an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat over longer periods of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other types of arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You might also wear a portable device that can record your heart's rhythm over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor. Other heart tests may be required, based on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist will test your blood pressure, or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). This can help determine if you have a condition that is the cause of your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure. Your doctor may also need to perform an analysis of your blood to determine the issue with your electrolytes. For instance, you may have low potassium or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, including anemia and anxiety disorders. You might be referred to an electrophysiologist, a specialist who specializes in treating irregular heart rhythms. The doctor may be required to conduct other tests if you are suffering from structural heart diseases, such as the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will tell you whether you've suffered damage to your heart, and how serious it is. In some instances, a specialist may recommend an implanted pacemaker to treat the condition that is causing the PVCs.