Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs) are a kind of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are usually not dangerous and may go away by themselves.
To determine PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat and check other vital indicators. They might recommend an Holter monitor, a device that tracks your heart's electrical impulses over a period of 24 to 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs occur when electrical impulses from the heart's lower chambers ventricles misfire through a structure referred to as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, leading to a feeling like racing or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen as a single event or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the condition known as ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Some people do not experience any symptoms, whereas others experience heart palpitations. This can feel like an unsteady heartbeat or a skipping heartbeat. Other signs include dizziness, fatigue, or a feeling that you're unwell.
A lot of people who have occasional PVCs don't require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors could recommend a change in lifestyle or diet, such as limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They can also prescribe medications like calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers, which can slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will inquire about the person's medical history and conduct a physical exam to determine their general health. They can also employ a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms for longer durations, or an electrocardiogram, which takes a snapshot at the electrical activity of the heart. In some cases doctors may request blood tests to look for an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm issues or an electrophysiologist to conduct a further examination. This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs can be found everywhere and are not usually harmful unless they are used frequently or for long periods of time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiac myopathy. This is most common for people over the age of 65 or those with some type of heart disease. It can also happen in healthy people with an uninvolved heart, however it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. It's not an issue to worry about however it is crucial to consult a doctor if you notice symptoms like fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many people, occasional PVCs might not cause symptoms or require no treatment. However when you feel your heart is lagging the beat or is racing, it's vital to speak to a doctor as soon as possible.
A cardiologist will then interview you and conduct physical examinations by listening to your heart through an stethoscope to identify any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed, which will record the electrical signals in your heart and identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected then you will require a 24-hour Holter monitor or another portable ECG is required to capture the abnormal rhythm over longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you suffer from PVCs, and their cause, such as an imbalance in electrolytes, toxic drugs or other causes.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to determine if your heart is healthy and to look for indications of structural issues that can lead to PVCs. You might also have a stress test to see how your heart reacts to physical exercise can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also get blood tests to check your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to see if they're too low. This can lead to PVCs.
After your doctor confirms that you have PVCs, and has ruled any serious illnesses out, the treatment you choose to take depends on how they impact your life and how frequently they occur. If they occur only occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will recommend any medication to reduce their frequency or severity.
However, if you have frequent PVCs that cause palpitations and other symptoms, such as light-headedness or feeling like you're going to faint, your physician might recommend medications for you, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, such as abstaining from smoking, caffeine and stress levels that are excessive can also decrease the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
There are people who do not experience symptoms at all from PVCs, or feel heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) that may appear as "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause an increase in pressure or fullness in the chest. Other occasions, they may make a person feel faint. These episodes occur because the heart isn't functioning as efficiently as it should. The frequent PVCs increase a person's risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition wherein the heart gets larger and becomes ineffective at pump blood.
PVCs are often caused by changes in body chemical chemistry. This includes the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline and alcohol consumption or caffeine. Inactivity can trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excessive weight.
Some people find that changing their diet can reduce PVCs. They can, for example avoid foods that contain preservatives that can disrupt the heart rhythm. These include disodium guanylate, disodium Inosinate, and diazole Sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get enough magnesium.
It is important to get regular health checks, including yearly physicals and lab tests. These can help diagnose any heart-related conditions that could be causing your PVCs. Also, you should adhere to a healthy eating plan and avoid smoking, which could increase the frequency of your episodes.
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Signs and symptoms
The premature contraction of the ventricular muscle can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or be fluttering. These arrhythmias could be normal, or they could indicate you have heart issues that are serious.
In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't an issue and they usually go away by themselves. If you're suffering from several of them, they could lead to dizziness or weakness. If you're worried about them, consult your doctor about the symptoms. You might need to provide a medical history, and they may also conduct a physical examination in order to identify the issue. They'll also probably want to conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
An ECG is a test that's quick that will allow your doctor to detect the signal of your heartbeat as it moves through your heart over an extremely short period of time. If you have PVCs, they will show on the test. Your doctor may also decide to do an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat over longer periods of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other types of arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You could also wear a portable device that records your heart rhythm over the course of 30 days, which is known as an event monitor.
Other heart tests might be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For example an cardiologist may test your blood pressure, and also perform an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram). These tests can tell whether you have an issue like heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, or cardiomyopathy.
Your doctor may also have to conduct an examination of your blood to determine what the problem is with your electrolytes such as low potassium or high levels of calcium. This could indicate that you have PVCs or a different condition such as anemia or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred to an electrophysiologist, an expert who specializes in treating abnormal heart rhythms. If you suffer from heart disease that is structural the doctor may need to do other tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests will determine if your heart is damaged and the severity of the damage. In certain cases, a doctor may recommend a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying condition that's causing your PVCs.