The 9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Pvc Doctor
Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractures (PVCs), are a kind of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats aren't usually risky, and they may go away by themselves.
Doctors will monitor your heartbeat and look for other vital signs. They might order a Holter Monitor, which records the electrical impulses of your heart over a time of 24 to 48 hours. They can also request blood tests to determine your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that reverberate through the SA node, a structure found in the lower chambers of the heart. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing an experience similar to racing or skipped beats. PVCs can be seen as a single event, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as the condition known as ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people have no symptoms, but others experience palpitations. It can be felt as the sound of a beating heart or a slurred heartbeat. Other symptoms are dizziness, fatigue or a feeling that you're unwell.
Many people who have occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If someone is experiencing frequent episodes, doctors may suggest a change to lifestyle or diet including a reduction in caffeine, alcohol and stress. They can also prescribe medications like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers which can lower the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask about the medical history of the patient and do a physical exam to check their general health. They can also employ a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms over a longer period of time, or an electrocardiogram, which captures a picture of the electrical activity within the heart. In certain instances doctors may require blood tests to look for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
Occasionally, a pvc doctor will refer a patient to a specialist for heart rhythm issues, or an electrophysiologist, for further evaluation. The doctor will confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not.
PVCs can be found everywhere and aren't usually harmful unless they are used regularly or for a long time. This could lead to a weakening in the heart muscle or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is most common in people who are older or those with any form of heart disease. It can also happen to healthy people with normal, normal heart. However, it is more prevalent in people who regularly exercise. It's not an issue to worry about but it's important to speak with your upvc doctor if you experience symptoms such as fainting or fatigue.
Treatment
For many people, sporadic PVCs may not cause any symptoms or require no treatment. If you notice that your heart is racing or skipping a beat, it's best to seek out a physician immediately.
A cardiologist will first interview you and conduct an examination of your body by listening to your heart through a stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. Additionally, you will undergo an electrocardiogram that captures the electrical impulses of your heart, allowing you to identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is detected it is recommended to have a 24-hour Holter monitor or other portable ECG will be needed to detect the abnormal rhythm over longer durations of time. These devices can assist doctors determine whether you have PVCs, and their cause which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other factors.
An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of your heart, may be ordered to determine whether your heart is healthy and to look for signs of structural problems which could cause PVCs. You may also undergo a stress test to check how your heart reacts to exercise, as physical activity can increase the frequency of your pvcs. You can also have blood tests to test your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium and other hormones to determine whether they're insufficient. This can lead to PVCs.
If your doctor confirms that you suffer from PVCs, and has ruled any serious illness out, the treatment you choose to take depends on how they impact your life and how often they occur. If they happen only on occasion and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will prescribe any medication to lessen the frequency or severity of them.
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, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Changing your lifestyle to avoid triggers, like smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress, can also help lower the number of occurrences of these irregular pulses.
The following is a list of preventions.
A person might not experience any symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or experience heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can feel like "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes can cause an increase in pressure or fullness in the chest, and at other times, they can cause a person to feel faint. These episodes happen because the heart isn't pumping as effectively as normal. PVCs are linked to an increased risk of developing dilated cardiac myopathy. This is a condition where the heart gets larger and unable to pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in the body's chemistry. This includes the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, and drinking alcohol or caffeine. Stress or excess weight or the absence of exercise can trigger these episodes.
Certain people find that changing their diet may help to reduce the amount of PVCs. They can, for instance, 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). They can also consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure that they get sufficient magnesium and potassium.
Regular health checks are essential as are annual physicals. These can help diagnose any underlying heart conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. Also, you should avoid smoking and follow the healthy eating program. This can increase the frequency of episodes.
A survey of 14 regular hospital wards found that healthcare staff were generally aware of preventive measures to avoid the infection caused by vascular catheters, but their self-assessment of compliance to these procedures was not high. Compliance improved after an intervention to improve feedback however it was still very low on a few of the observed wards. This suggests that training is required to implement preventive measures, and those wards that are not compliant need to be targeted for infection monitoring. This information can be used to help in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives for these wards. This will likely involve additional training and education for staff. It will also require making sure that the appropriate materials are in place for the implementation of the preventive measures.
Signs and symptoms
Involuntary ventricular contractions that are premature can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or flutter. These arrhythmias can be harmless, but they could indicate that you are suffering from serious heart issues.
In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They typically disappear by themselves. If you've got many of them, they can cause dizziness or weakening. If you're concerned you might be experiencing dizziness or weakness, talk to your doctor about the symptoms. You might be required to provide your medical history and they might also perform an examination to diagnose the problem. They'll likely also need to conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or other tests.
A quick ECG test allows your doctor to see the heartbeat signal moving through your body for a a short period of time. The test will determine if you have PVCs. Your doctor might also want to perform an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor, which records your heartbeat over longer periods of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations. You could also carry a device that can record your heart's rhythm over 30 days, called an event monitor.
Other tests for the heart may be required, depending on the cause of your PVCs. For instance an cardiologist may test your blood pressure and do an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These tests can reveal 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 an analysis of your blood to determine the issue with electrolytes. For instance, you may have low potassium levels or high levels of calcium. This could be a sign that you suffer from PVCs, or another problem such as anemia, or anxiety disorders.
You may be referred an electrophysiologist who treats abnormal heart rhythms. If you suffer from heart disease that is structural the specialist may have to do other tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether your heart is damaged and how severe it is. In some instances an expert may recommend a pacemaker to treat the issue which is causing the PVCs.