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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 usually aren't dangerous, and they can go away by themselves. To diagnose PVC Doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital indicators. They might recommend a Holter monitor which tracks your heart's electrical impulses over 24-48 hours. They may also request blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones. Diagnosis PVCs happen when electrical impulses from the lower chambers of the heart, or ventricles, misfire through a structure referred to as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to an experience similar to fluttering or skipped beats. windows doctor can be seen in one pattern or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the condition known as ventricular Tachycardia (VT). Some people don't experience any symptoms whatsoever Others experience heart palpitations that can be felt as the heart beating faster or slower. Other signs include dizziness, fatigue, or a feeling that you're unwell. Many people who experience occasional PVCs do not require treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors could suggest a change in diet or lifestyle like limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They might prescribe beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that can lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and conduct an examination to assess their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to capture a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity or a Holter monitor which is worn for longer time periods and monitors the heart's rhythms over time. Doctors may order blood tests in some instances to look for imbalances in electrolytes or toxic substances in the body. Sometimes, a pvc doctor may refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm issues, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. This doctor can confirm a diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are malignant or benign. PVCs can be found everywhere and are generally not harmful unless they are used frequently or for a long time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiac myopathy. This is most prevalent in people who are older or those with any form of heart disease. It can also occur to healthy individuals with normal, normal hearts. However, it's more prevalent in people who regularly exercise. It's not a serious condition, but you should inform your doctor if symptoms like fatigue or fainting occur. Treatment For many, occasional PVCs may not cause any symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. If you notice that your heart is racing or slurring the beat, it's best to consult a doctor immediately. A cardiologist will then interview you and conduct an examination of your body by listening to your heart with an stethoscope to identify any irregular beats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram that records the electrical signals of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected, an all-day Holter monitor or another portable ECG is required to capture the abnormal rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices can assist doctors determine whether you have PVCs, and their cause which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, toxic drugs or other factors. An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to determine if your heart is healthy and check for signs of structural problems which could cause PVCs. You could also have a stress test to check how your heart reacts to exercise, since physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also take blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium and other hormones to determine if they're too low. This could lead to PVCs. After your doctor has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled out any serious illnesses, the decision on how to treat them will be based on how much they're impacting your life and how frequently they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will recommend any medication to reduce the frequency or severity of them. If you have frequent PVCs, which can cause palpitations or other symptoms like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes like avoiding caffeine, smoking and stress levels that are excessive can also reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses. Prevention PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations that can feel like “skipped beats” or flutters in your chest. These episodes can cause an feeling of pressure or fullness or they can make you feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart is not pumping as efficiently as it normally does. PVCs are associated with a higher chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart gets larger and in a position to not pump blood. PVCs are often caused by changes in the body's chemical chemistry. This includes the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Inactivity can trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excess weight. Some people can find that a change in diet can reduce their PVCs. They can, for instance, avoid foods that contain preservatives which can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, disodium Inosinate, and diazole sodium (E282-283). You can also consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure that they get sufficient magnesium and potassium. It is important to get regular health check-ups, which include annual physicals and lab tests. They can aid in identifying any heart-related conditions which could be causing your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to an appropriate diet and avoid smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes. A survey of 14 typical hospital wards showed that healthcare workers were generally aware of preventive measures to avoid infections caused by vascular catheters, however their self-assessment of compliance to these procedures was not high. After a feedback intervention, compliance improved on some wards, but it was still not as high. This suggests that training on how to implement preventive measures is necessary 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 likely require more education and training for staff. It will also mean making sure that the correct materials are in place for the implementation of preventive measures. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractions can cause your heartbeat to skip or be fluttering. These arrhythmias can be harmless or they may be a sign of serious heart problems. In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not any problem. They generally disappear on their own. If you're suffering from many of them, they could lead to dizziness or weakness. Speak to your doctor if you are concerned. You might be required to provide an medical history, and they may also conduct a physical examination in order to diagnose the problem. They might also need to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests. A quick ECG test lets your doctor see the pulse of your heart going through your body over a a short period of time. 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 which cause heart palpitations. You could also be wearing a device that records your heart rate over 30 days, called an event monitor. Other tests for the heart may be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist can check your blood pressure, or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests can tell whether you have an issue such as heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, or cardiomyopathy. Your doctor may also need to run a blood test to determine the problem with electrolytes. For instance, you may have low potassium or high levels of calcium. This could indicate that you suffer from PVCs or another condition such as anemia or anxiety disorders. You might be referred to an electrophysiologist one of the specialists who specialize in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal. If you suffer from structural heart disease the doctor may need to do other tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will tell you whether you've suffered damage to your heart and how severe it is. In some cases, a specialist may recommend pacemakers to treat the issue that causes the PVCs.