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Why It's Important to See a Doctor Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are usually not dangerous, and they can disappear on their own. To determine PVC Doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital indicators. They may also order an Holter Monitor, which records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones. Diagnosis PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that misfire through the SA node, a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to delay, which can cause a feeling like fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs may occur alone or in repeated patterns. Doublets are PVCs that occur in a series of. Ventricular tachycardia is three or more consecutive ones. Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, but others experience palpitations. It could be the sound of a beating heart or a slurred heartbeat. Other symptoms are dizziness, fatigue or feeling unwell. Many people with occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors might suggest a change to the way of life or diet including a reduction in caffeine, alcohol and stress. They may also prescribe medication, such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers, which can slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure. Doctors will inquire about their medical history and conduct an examination to assess their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to track the heart's rhythms for a longer period of time or an electrocardiogram which captures a picture of the electrical activity in the heart. In certain cases doctors may request blood tests to determine if there is an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity. A pvc physician may refer a patient to an electrophysiologist or specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. The doctor can confirm a diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are malignant or benign. PVCs are quite common and rarely cause any problems except when they are frequent over a long time. This can cause a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more common in older adults or those suffering from heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with a normal heart, although 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 tell your doctor if you experience symptoms like fainting or fatigue. Treatment PVCs are not harmful and do not cause symptoms in a lot of people. They don't require treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or not making a beat, it's best to see a doctor right away. A cardiologist begins by interviewing you and performing a an examination of your body, monitoring your heart using a stethoscope for any irregular heartbeats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical impulses of your heart to detect any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected it is recommended to use a portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor will be required to capture the abnormal rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices can assist doctors determine if you have PVCs and their causes, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other causes. An echocardiogram, an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to assess if your heart is healthy and look for any indications of structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You may also be required to undergo a stress test in order to determine the response of your heart to exercise. Physical activity can increase the frequency of pvcs. You can also get blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium and other hormones to see whether they're low. This could lead to PVCs. If your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs and has ruled any serious illnesses out, the treatment you choose to take will depend on how they affect your life and how often they occur. If they occur only occasionally and do not cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to prescribe any medication that will reduce their frequency or severity. If you experience frequent PVCs that can trigger palpitations or other symptoms such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your physician might prescribe medications like beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changing your lifestyle to avoid triggers, like smoking, caffeine and excess stress, can help lower the number of instances of these irregular pulses. The following is a list with preventions. A person may experience no symptoms at all from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can feel like “skipped” beats or fluttering in the chest. These episodes can trigger an feeling of pressure or fullness or make you feel faint. These episodes result from the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. Frequent PVCs increase the chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition wherein the heart enlarges and is unable to pump blood. PVCs often are caused by changes in the body's chemical balance. These include the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, as well as drinking caffeine or alcohol. Stress or excess weight or the absence of exercise can trigger these episodes. Certain people find that changing their diet may help to reduce PVCs. Repair My Windows And Doors can, for instance avoid foods that contain preservatives which can cause a disturbance of the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, diazole, and disodium inosinate sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits to ensure they're getting enough potassium and magnesium. Regular health checks are crucial as are annual physicals. These tests can help diagnose any heart-related conditions that could cause your PVCs. You should also refrain from smoking and adhere to a healthy diet plan. This could increase the frequency of episodes. A survey of healthcare workers on 14 normal hospital wards revealed that they were aware of the preventive measures to avoid vascular catheter-associated infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these guidelines was low. After a feedback program the compliance level improved on a few wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that education is needed on how to implement preventive measures, and those wards that are not than compliant should be targeted for monitoring of infection. These data can be used to inform quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will likely require further education and training for personnel. It will also be important to ensure that the appropriate materials for implementing the preventive measures are readily available. Signs and symptoms If you feel like your heart is skipping beats or fluttering, it may be due to premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias may be harmless or they may be a sign of serious heart problems. In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't an issue and they usually go away by themselves. If you've got a lot of them, it could cause dizziness or weakness. If you're concerned you might be experiencing dizziness or weakness, talk to your doctor about them. You might be required to provide an medical history, and they might also perform a physical examination in order to determine the cause. They'll likely also need to do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests. A quick ECG test will allow your doctor to observe the pulse of your heart moving through your body for a the course of a brief period. If you have PVCs, they will show on the test. Your doctor may also decide to conduct an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat over longer periods of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You can also wear an event monitor, which is a portable device which records your heart rhythm for 30 days. Other tests for the heart may be required, based on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist may check your blood pressure or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These can help find if you have a issue that could be the cause of your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy or heart failure. Your doctor may also have to run tests on your blood to identify the issue with your electrolytes. For instance, a low level of potassium or high levels of calcium. This could indicate that you suffer from PVCs or a different condition such as anemia or anxiety disorders. You may be referred to an electrophysiologist a specialist who specializes in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal. If you suffer from heart disease that is structural, this specialist might need to do other tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether you've damaged your heart, and how serious it is. In some instances, the specialist might recommend an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying issue the cause of your PVCs.