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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 typically not dangerous and may be cured by themselves. Doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and check other vitals indicators. They might order an Holter monitor which records your heart's electrical impulses over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They may also request blood tests to assess the levels of electrolytes and thyroid hormones. Diagnosis PVCs occur when electrical impulses coming from the lower chambers of the heart ventricles misfire through a structure known as the SA node. This delays the next heartbeat and causes an experience of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest. PVCs can be seen 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 have no symptoms, while others experience palpitations. It can be felt as the sound of a beating heart or a rapid heartbeat. Other signs are dizziness, fatigue or a feeling of being unwell. Many people who have occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If a patient experiences frequent episodes, a doctor might recommend a change in diet or lifestyle. For example restricting caffeine and stress as well as alcohol. They may prescribe medication such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate. Doctors will ask about the medical history of the patient and conduct a physical exam to assess their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms for longer durations, or an electrocardiogram, which records a snapshot of the electrical activity in the heart. Doctors may require blood tests in certain cases to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or drug toxicity. A pvc doctor may refer a patient to an electrophysiologist or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. The doctor will confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not. PVCs are fairly common and don't usually cause any problems, except when they are frequent over a long period of time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common for people over the age of 65 or those with some type of heart disease. It can also happen to healthy individuals with a normal, normal heart. However, it is more prevalent in people who exercise regularly. It's not a serious problem, but it is important to consult your physician if you notice symptoms like fatigue or fainting occur. Treatment PVCs are not harmful and do not cause symptoms in a lot of people. They don't require treatment. However, for those who do experience a sensation like your heart is lagging a beat or is racing, it's important to consult a physician immediately. A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and doing an examination of your body, listening to your heart with an stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. You'll also undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical impulses of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been identified it is recommended to use the use of a portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to capture the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you have PVCs and the reason for them which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other causes. An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, could be ordered to determine if your heart is healthy and look for any indications of structural issues that can lead to PVCs. You could also be asked to undergo stress tests to determine how your heart reacts to exercise. Exercise can increase your frequency of PVCs. You may also undergo blood tests to determine your thyroid, magnesium, and potassium hormone levels to find out whether they are insufficient which could contribute to the development of PVCs. After your doctor has determined that you're suffering from PVCs and has eliminated any serious illnesses, the decision of whether or not to treat them will depend on the extent to which they impact your life and the frequency at which they occur. If they occur only occasionally and do not cause symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to prescribe any medication to reduce their frequency or severity. If, however, you suffer from frequent PVCs that do cause palpitations and other symptoms, like lightheadedness or feeling like you're about to faint, your physician may suggest medications for you, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes such as avoiding caffeine, smoking, and excessive stress can also reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses. The following is a list of preventatives. PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, which can be described as “skipped beats” or flutters in your chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger an increase in pressure or fullness in the chest. Other occasions, they may make a person feel faint. These episodes happen because the heart isn't functioning as efficiently as it should. Regular PVCs increase the chance 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, as well as the absence of exercise can trigger these episodes. Certain people find that altering their diet can reduce the number of PVCs. For instance, they could 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). It is also recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits to ensure that they get enough potassium and magnesium. window doctor is essential to have regular health checks, which include yearly physicals and lab tests. These tests can help you identify any heart conditions that may cause 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 wards of a normal hospital showed that they were generally aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat vascular catheter-associated infections However, their self-assessed compliance with these guidelines was poor. After a feedback program, compliance improved on some wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that training on how to implement the preventive measures is necessary and that wards that are not complying should be targeted for infection surveillance. This information can be used to guide the implementation of additional quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will likely require further education and training for staff. It will also be necessary to ensure that the right tools to implement the preventive measures are in place. Symptoms Involuntary ventricular contractions that are premature can cause your heartbeat to skip or flutter. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they can be the sign of heart problems. In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't an issue and they usually disappear by themselves. But if you have a lot of them, they can cause dizziness or weakness. If you're worried you might be experiencing dizziness or weakness, talk to your doctor about them. They may have to identify the problem by taking a medical history and giving you an examination. They might also need to conduct an electrocardiogram or other tests. An ECG is a quick test that allows your health care provider see the signal from your heartbeat moving through your heart for the course of a brief duration. If you have PVCs, they will show on the test. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over a longer period of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You may also wear a portable 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 instance an cardiologist may test your blood pressure and perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These can help find the presence of a medical condition that is responsible for your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse or heart failure. Your doctor might also need to conduct a blood test to see what the problem is in your electrolytes, such as low potassium or high calcium levels. This could be a sign that you have PVCs or a different health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders. You might be referred to an electrophysiologist a specialist who specializes in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal. The doctor may be required to perform other tests if you are suffering from heart problems that are structural, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can tell whether you've damaged your heart and how serious it is. In certain cases an expert may recommend an implanted pacemaker to treat the condition which is causing the PVCs.