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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 generally not dangerous and may be cured by themselves. To diagnose PVC Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and check other vital indicators. They might order an Holter monitor, a device that records the electrical impulses your heart produces 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, which is a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This delays the next heartbeat which can cause a feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can occur in isolation, or in repeated patterns. Doublets are PVCs that occur in a series of. Ventricular tachycardia refers to three or more consecutive PVCs. Some people do not experience any symptoms, but others experience heart palpitations. It can be felt as the sound of a beating heart or a slurred heartbeat. Other typical symptoms include fatigue, dizziness or a sensation of being sick. Many people with occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors might suggest a change in lifestyle or diet including a reduction in alcohol, caffeine and stress. They may also prescribe medications like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure. Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and conduct a physical examination to assess their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to get a snapshot of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor which is worn for longer periods and captures the heart's rhythms over time. In some cases doctors may require blood tests to look for an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs. A pvc physician may refer patients to an electrophysiologist or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not. PVCs are quite common and don't usually cause any problems, except when they are frequent over a long time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. It is more prevalent in older people or those with heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. Usually, this isn't an issue to worry about but it's important to consult an expert if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue. Treatment For many people, sporadic PVCs may not cause any symptoms or require no treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or skipping a beat, it's best to seek out a physician immediately. window doctor will first interview you and then perform a physical examination, listening to your heart using the stethoscope in order to detect any irregular heartbeats. You will also undergo an electrocardiogram, which captures the electrical impulses of your heart, allowing you to identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is discovered it is recommended to use the use of a portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor is required to record the abnormal rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices can help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs and the cause of them, such as an electrolyte imbalance, drug toxicities, or any other cause. You might be asked to undergo an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of your heart) to determine the health of your heart is in good order and to look for structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You could also have an exercise test to determine how your heart reacts to physical exercise can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also have blood tests to assess your thyroid, magnesium, and potassium hormone levels to find out if they are too low, which can contribute to the formation of PVCs. Once your doctor has confirmed that you're suffering from PVCs and has eliminated any serious illnesses, the decision on whether or not to treat them will depend on the extent to which they impact your life and how frequently they occur. If they only occur occasionally and do not cause any symptoms, your doctor is unlikely to recommend any treatment to decrease their frequency or severity. If, however, you suffer from frequent PVCs that cause heart palpitations, as well as other symptoms such as light-headedness or feeling like you're going to faint, your doctor might recommend medications for you, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, like cutting down on smoking, caffeine and stress, can also decrease the frequency of these abnormal pulses. The following is a list of preventatives. PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, which can feel like “skipped beats” or flutterings in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger a fullness or pressure in the chest, and other occasions, they may make a person feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart isn't functioning as efficiently as it should. 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 the body's chemical chemistry. They can be caused by the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, in addition to drinking caffeine or alcohol. Stress or excess weight or the absence of exercise can trigger these episodes. Certain people find that changing their diet can reduce the amount of PVCs. For instance, they can avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate and diazole, and disodium Inosinate sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get enough magnesium. Regular health checks are essential and include annual physicals. These tests can help identify any heart issues that could cause your PVCs. Also, you should avoid smoking and follow the healthy eating program. This can increase the frequency of episodes. A survey of healthcare workers on 14 wards of a normal hospital found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat vascular catheter-related infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these practices was poor. The compliance improved following an intervention to improve feedback however it was still very low on some of the wards surveyed. This suggests that education on how to implement preventive measures is essential and that wards which are less compliant should be targeted for infection surveillance. This information can be used to guide the implementation of further quality improvement initiatives on these wards. This will likely involve more training and education for personnel. It will also involve making sure that the appropriate materials are in place for the implementation of preventive measures. Signs and symptoms If you feel like your heart beats are erratic or fluttering, it may be a sign of premature ventricular contractions. These arrhythmias aren't necessarily dangerous or they could be an indication of serious heart problems. In healthy individuals, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They usually disappear by themselves. However, if you suffer from several of them, they could cause dizziness or weakness. Speak to your doctor if you are concerned. They might need to diagnose the problem by taking an history of your medical condition and giving you an examination. They'll also probably want to conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests. An ECG is a quick test that lets your health care provider observe the signal generated by your heartbeat as it moves through your heart for an extremely short period of duration. If you have PVCs, they'll be visible in the test. Your doctor may also suggest a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat for a longer period of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, which is a portable device which keeps track of your heart's rhythm for 30 days. Other tests for the heart may be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist may check your blood pressure or conduct an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These tests will determine whether you are suffering from an illness like heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy. Your doctor may also have to conduct an examination of your blood to determine what's wrong with your electrolytes, for example, low potassium levels or high calcium levels. This could be a sign that you suffer from PVCs or another health issue such as anemia or anxiety disorders. You may be referred to a specialist in electrophysiology, who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. The doctor may be required to conduct other tests if you have heart problems that are structural, such as an CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will tell you whether you've suffered damage to your heart and how serious it is. In certain cases, a specialist may recommend pacemakers to treat the issue that is causing the PVCs.