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Why It's Important to See a Doctor Premature ventricular contracts (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not dangerous and may go away by themselves. To determine PVC Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and check other vital indicators. They might order 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 reverberate through the SA node, a structure in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing the sensation of fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs may occur alone, or in repeated patterns. Doublets are two consecutive PVCs. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive PVCs. Some people do not experience any symptoms, but others experience palpitations. It can be felt as a pounding heartbeat or a slurred heartbeat. Other symptoms are dizziness, fatigue or a feeling of being unwell. Many people with occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If a patient has frequent episodes, a physician may recommend a change to the diet or lifestyle. For example restricting caffeine, stress, and alcohol. They may prescribe medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and conduct a physical exam to check their general health. They may also employ an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor which is worn for longer periods and records the heart's rhythms over time. In certain instances doctors may require blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity. Sometimes, a pvc doctor will refer someone to a specialist in heart rhythm issues, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. The doctor will confirm a diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are malignant or benign. PVCs are quite frequent and usually don't cause any problems, unless they happen frequently over a long time. This can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more common for people over the age of 65, or those who have some type of heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. Most of the time, this isn't an issue that is serious however it is crucial to consult your doctor if you experience symptoms like fainting or fatigue. Treatment For many people, sporadic PVCs might not cause symptoms or need no treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or not making the beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately. A cardiologist will begin by interviewing you and doing physical examination, and monitoring your heart using the stethoscope to look for irregular beats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed, which will record the electrical signals in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified it is recommended to have an all-day Holter monitor or another portable ECG will be required to detect the irregular rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the reason for them like an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other causes. You may be requested to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is good and to look for structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You may also be asked to undergo stress tests to find out the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase your frequency of pvcs. You can also have blood tests to determine your thyroid, magnesium, and potassium hormone levels to determine whether they are low and can cause the formation of PVCs. After your doctor has determined that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled out any serious illnesses and has made a decision about how to treat them will be based on how much they're impacting your life and how often they occur. If they occur only occasionally and don't cause any symptoms the doctor is not likely to recommend any medication that will reduce their frequency or severity. However, if you have frequent PVCs that do cause the sensation of palpitations or other symptoms, such as light-headedness or feeling like you're about to faint, your physician might suggest medication, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Altering your lifestyle to avoid triggers, such as smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress, can also help lower the number of occurrences 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 occasions, they may make someone feel faint. These episodes happen because the heart is not pumping as effectively as normal. PVCs are associated with an increased risk of developing dilated cardiac myopathy. This is a condition in which the heart expands and becomes unable to pump blood. PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry. This includes the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. A lack of exercise can trigger these episodes like stress or excessive weight. windows doctor find that a change in their diet helps to reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods which contain preservatives that could cause disturbances in the heartbeat, for example disodium Guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627), and diazole sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to get sufficient magnesium. It is essential to have regular health checks, including annual physicals and laboratory tests. These tests can help identify any heart-related conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. It is also recommended to adhere to 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 showed that they were generally aware of the preventive measures to avoid infections caused by vascular catheters However, their self-assessed compliance with these practices was low. The compliance improved following feedback interventions however, it was still low on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that education on the best ways to implement preventive measures is necessary and that areas that are not as well-adjusted should be targeted for infection surveillance. This information can then be used to guide the implementation of additional quality improvement initiatives on these wards. This will likely involve additional education and training for staff. It will also involve making sure that the right materials are in place for the implementing of the preventive measures. Symptoms If you feel your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it could be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they may be an indication of serious heart problems. In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They usually disappear by themselves. If you've got many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakening. Talk to your doctor if concerned. They may have to identify the issue by taking an medical history and performing a physical exam. They'll likely also need to conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests. An ECG is a test that's quick that allows your health care provider detect the signal of your heartbeat moving through your heart for a short duration. The test will show whether you have PVCs. Your doctor may also recommend 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 could also be wearing a device that can record your heart rate over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor. Other tests for the heart may be required, based on the reason behind your PVCs. For example, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). This can help determine if you have a issue that could be causing your PVCs or heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure. Your doctor may also have to perform tests on your blood to identify the issue with electrolytes. For instance, you may have low potassium levels or a high level of calcium. This could be a sign that you suffer from PVCs or a different condition such as anemia or anxiety disorders. You might be referred to an electrophysiologist, a specialist who specializes in treating abnormal heart rhythms. If you have structural heart disease the doctor may need to conduct 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 serious it is. In some instances an expert may recommend pacemakers to treat the condition which is causing the PVCs.