Why she said to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats aren't usually hazardous, and they could disappear on their own.
To diagnose PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital indicators. They may also order an Holter Monitor which captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a time of 24 to 48 hours. They can also order blood tests for checking your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels.
Diagnosis
PVCs occur when electrical impulses from the lower chambers of the heart ventricles, or lower chambers, fail to pass through a structure called the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to delay, which can cause a feeling like the heart is fluttering or skips beats. PVCs can be seen in a single pattern or in repeated patterns. Doublets are PVCs that occur in a series of. Ventricular tachycardia is three or more consecutive ones.
Some people don't experience any symptoms Others experience heart palpitations which can feel like a pounding or skipping heartbeat. Other signs are dizziness, fatigue or feeling unwell.
A lot of people who have occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors may recommend a change in diet or lifestyle including a reduction in caffeine, alcohol and stress. They might prescribe medications such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate.
Doctors will inquire about the patient's medical history and perform a physical examination to check their general health. They can also perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor that is worn for longer periods and captures the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may require blood tests in some instances to look for imbalances in electrolytes or toxic substances in the body.
A pvc doctor might refer the patient to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. The doctor will confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not.
PVCs can be found everywhere and aren't usually harmful when used frequently or for a long time. This could lead to a weakening of the heart muscle, or a condition referred to as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more common in older people or those with heart disease. It can also occur to healthy people who have normal, normal heart. However, it is more prevalent in people who exercise regularly. It's not an issue that is serious, but it is important to tell your doctor if you experience symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many people, occasional PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or are harmless and need no treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or slurring an entire beat, you need to consult a doctor immediately.
A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and performing a an examination of your body, listening to your heart with an stethoscope to detect any irregular beats. You'll also get an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed to record the electrical signals in your heart and detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been discovered then a portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to capture the abnormal rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will assist doctors determine if you have PVCs and the cause of them, like an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicities, or other causes.
You may be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is in good shape and to check for structural problems which could lead to PVCs. You may also be asked to undergo stress tests to find out the response of your heart to exercise. Physical activity can increase the frequency of pvcs. You may also be able to have blood tests to determine your thyroid, potassium, and magnesium hormone levels to find out if they are too low, which can contribute to the development of PVCs.
If your doctor has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled any serious diseases out, the treatment option you choose will depend on how they affect your life and the frequency they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will recommend any medication to decrease their frequency or severity.
If you have frequent PVCs that can trigger heart palpitations, or other symptoms such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medication such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Making changes to your lifestyle in order to stay clear of triggers, such as caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can also aid in reducing the frequency of times you experience these unusual pulses.
The following is a list with preventions.
PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations which may feel like "skipped beats" or flutters in your chest. These episodes can cause feelings of pressure or fullness or they can make you feel faint. These episodes happen because the heart is not functioning as efficiently as it should. The frequent PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart gets larger and becomes ineffective at pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in the body's chemical. These include the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, in addition to drinking alcohol or caffeine. Lack of exercise can trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excessive weight.
Some people can find that a change in their diet helps reduce their PVCs. For example, 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). You can also take in more fruits and vegetables to ensure they're getting enough magnesium and potassium.
Regular health checks are important and include annual physicals. They can aid in identifying any underlying heart conditions which could be causing your PVCs. You should also avoid smoking and follow an appropriate diet plan. This can increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 wards of a normal hospital showed that they were generally aware of the preventive measures for vascular catheter-associated infections However, their self-assessed compliance with these measures was not great. Compliance improved following a feedback intervention, but was still low on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that education on how to implement the preventive measures is required and that the wards that are not complying 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 mean making sure that the right materials are available for the implementation of preventive measures.
Signs and symptoms
If you feel your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it could be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless, or they could be a sign that you have heart issues that are serious.
In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not any problem. They typically disappear by themselves. But if you have a lot of them, they may lead to dizziness or weakness. Consult your doctor if concerned. They might need to diagnose the problem by taking an history of your medical condition and performing an examination. They may also want to perform an electrocardiogram or other tests.
An ECG is a simple test that lets your health care provider see the signal from your heartbeat as it travels through your heart in the course of a brief period of time. If you have PVCs, they'll show up in the test. Your doctor may also suggest to perform an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat for longer durations of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You could also be wearing a device that can record your heart rhythm over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor.
Other tests for your heart might be required, based on the reason for your PVCs. A cardiologist can check your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). This can help determine the presence of a medical condition that is causing your PVCs, such as cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor might also need to do an analysis of your blood to determine what's wrong in your electrolytes, such as low potassium or high calcium levels. This can be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that may cause them, like anemia and anxiety disorders.
You could be referred to an electrophysiologist who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. This specialist may need to perform other tests if you have heart problems that are structural, such as the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests can tell whether you've suffered damage to your heart and how severe it is. In certain cases doctors may suggest a pacemaker to treat the condition which is causing the PVCs.