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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 usually aren't risky, and they may go away by themselves. Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and also check other vitals indicators. They may order a Holter monitor which tracks your heart's electrical impulses over 24-48 hours. They can also order blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones. Diagnosis PVCs happen when electrical impulses coming from the heart's lower chambers ventricles, or lower chambers, fail to pass through a structure called the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing a feeling like the heart is fluttering or skips beats. PVCs can be seen as a single event, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, while three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the condition known as ventricular Tachycardia (VT). Some people are not experiencing any symptoms, but others experience palpitations. It could be an unsteady heartbeat or a skipping heartbeat. Other signs are dizziness, fatigue or a feeling of being unwell. Many people who suffer from occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a person has frequent episodes, doctors could suggest a change in the way of life or diet, such as limiting alcohol, caffeine and stress. They can also prescribe medications like beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure. Doctors will inquire about the patient's medical history and do a physical exam to check their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms over a longer period of time, or an electrocardiogram, which takes a snapshot at the electrical activity in the heart. Doctors may request blood tests in some instances to determine if there are electrolyte imbalances or drug toxicity. A pvc physician may refer the patient to an electrophysiologist or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further evaluation. The doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or malignant. PVCs can be found everywhere and aren't usually harmful when used frequently or for long periods of time. This can cause a weakening in the heart muscle or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more common in older people or those suffering from heart disease. It can also occur to healthy people with normal, normal hearts. However, it's more prevalent among those who exercise regularly. It is not a major problem, but it is important to consult your physician if you notice symptoms such as fatigue or fainting occur. Treatment For many people, sporadic PVCs might not cause symptoms or are harmless and require no treatment. If you feel that your heart is racing or skipping a beat, it's best to see a doctor right away. A cardiologist will first interview you and then perform physical examinations, listening to your heart using the stethoscope in order to detect any irregular beats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical signals of your heart to determine any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia has been identified then an portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor is required to document the abnormal rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will assist doctors determine if you have PVCs and the reason behind them, like an electrolyte imbalance, a drug toxicity, or other factors. An echocardiogram, also known as an ultrasound of your heart, can be ordered to determine whether your heart is in good health and look for any signs of structural problems which could cause PVCs. You may also undergo an exercise test to determine how your heart responds to exercise, since physical activity can increase the frequency of your PVCs. You can also take blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone as well as potassium, magnesium and other hormones to see whether they're low. This could lead to PVCs. Once your doctor has confirmed that you have PVCs and has eliminated any serious illness and has made a decision about whether or not to treat them will be based on the degree to which they're affecting your life and the frequency at which 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 heart palpitations, or other symptoms such as feeling light-headed or fainting, your doctor may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes such as cutting down on smoking, caffeine and stress levels that are excessive can also reduce the frequency of these irregular pulses. The following is a list of preventatives. PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations, which can feel like “skipped beats” or flutters in the chest. These episodes can create feelings of fullness or pressure, or make you feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart is not pumping as efficiently as it normally does. The frequent PVCs increase a person's risk of developing dilated Cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart gets larger and is not able to pump blood. PVCs often are caused by changes in the body's chemical balance. This includes the release of thyroid and adrenaline hormones, as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. Lack of exercise can trigger these symptoms and stress, as well as excessive weight. Some people have found that a change in diet helps reduce their PVCs. For instance, they can, avoid foods that are preservative-laden, which could cause disturbances to the heart rhythm. These include disodium Guanylate, diazole, and disodium Inosinate sodium (E282-283). Consume more fruits and vegetables to get enough magnesium. Regular health checks are crucial, including yearly physicals. They can aid in identifying any heart-related conditions which could be causing your PVCs. You should also not smoke and adhere to the healthy eating plan. This could increase the frequency of episodes. A survey of healthcare professionals on 14 normal hospital wards found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures for vascular catheter-associated infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these guidelines was poor. After a feedback intervention that improved compliance on certain areas, but was still very low. This suggests that training is needed on how to implement preventive measures and those wards that are less compliant need to be targeted for monitoring of infection. This information can be used to help in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This could involve additional education and training for staff. It will also require making sure that the appropriate materials are in place 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 can be harmless or they can be an indication of serious heart issues. In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't a problem, and they usually disappear on their own. If you've got many of them, it could cause dizziness or weakness. If you're worried you might be experiencing dizziness or weakness, talk to your doctor about them. They may need to determine the issue by taking an medical history and performing a physical exam. They may also do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests. An ECG is a simple test that lets your health care provider observe the signal generated by your heartbeat as it moves through your heart over an extremely short period of period of time. If you have PVCs, they'll show up in the test. Your doctor might also suggest the use of a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat for a longer period of time. These tests can help distinguish PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You might also be wearing a device that records your heart rhythm over a period of 30 days, referred to as an event monitor. image source for the heart may be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. A cardiologist may check your blood pressure, or perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). This can help determine whether you suffer from a issue that could be causing your PVCs, such as mitral valve prolapse or heart failure. Your doctor might also need to conduct an analysis of your blood to determine what the problem is with your electrolytes, like low potassium or high calcium levels. This could be an indication of PVCs or other conditions that can cause them, like anemia and anxiety disorders. You may be referred a specialist in electrophysiology, who can treat irregular heart rhythms. The specialist might need to conduct other tests if you suffer from structural heart diseases like the CT or MRI scan of your chest. These tests will determine if your heart is damaged and how severe the damage is. In some cases, a specialist may recommend pacemakers to treat the condition that causes the PVCs.