Why It's Important to See a Doctor Premature ventricular contracts PVCs are a type of irregular heartbeat These extra beats aren't usually dangerous, and they can go away on their own To diagnose PVC Doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital signs They may order a Holter monitor, a device that 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 are caused by electrical impulses which misfire through the SA node, a structure located in the lower chambers of the heart This causes the heartbeat to be delayed, causing the feeling of fluttering or skipped beats in the chest PVCs can be seen in one pattern or in repeated patterns Two consecutive PVCs are known as doublets, while three or more consecutive PVCs are referred to as ventricular tachycardia VT While some people don't show any symptoms at all, others feel palpitations, that can be felt as a pounding or skipping heartbeat Other symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, or a feeling of being unwell Many people with occasional PVCs don't need any treatment If a patient has frequent episodes, a physician might recommend a change in diet or lifestyle For instance, limiting caffeine, stress, and alcohol They may also prescribe medications, such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers which can lower the heart rate and lower blood pressure Doctors will inquire about their medical history, and then perform an examination of the body to check on their general health They can also employ a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms for a longer period of time or an electrocardiogram which captures a picture of the electrical activity of the heart In certain instances, doctors may order blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity A pvc doctor might refer patients to an electrophysiologist or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination This doctor can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are malignant or benign PVCs are all over the place 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 known as pvc-induced cardiomyopathy It is more common for people over the age of 65, or those who have some type of heart disease This can happen to healthy individuals with normal, normal hearts However, it is more prevalent in people who exercise regularly Most of the time, this isn't a serious concern, but it is important to tell a doctor if you notice symptoms such as fainting or fatigue Treatment PVCs are not harmful or cause symptoms in many people They do not require treatment But when you do experience a sensation like your heart is lagging an beat or is racing, it's crucial to speak to a doctor immediately A cardiologist will begin by interviewing you and performing a a physical exam, monitoring your heart using the stethoscope to look for irregular heartbeats You will also undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical signals of your heart, allowing you to identify any arrhythmias If an arrhythmia has been discovered then a portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor is required to capture the irregular rhythm for longer periods of time These devices can help doctors determine whether you have PVCs and the reason for them which could be due to an imbalance in electrolytes, toxicity of drugs or other causes You might be required to undergo an echocardiogram an ultrasound of your heart to determine whether your heart health is in good shape and to check for structural issues which could lead to PVCs You may also be required to undergo a stress test in order to find out the response of your heart to exercise Physical activity can increase the frequency of pvcs You can also take blood tests to test your thyroid hormone, magnesium, potassium and other hormones to see whether they're insufficient This can lead to PVCs After your doctor has determined that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled out any serious diseases and has made a decision about whether or not to treat them will be contingent on how much they're impacting your life and how often they occur If they only occur occasionally and don't cause any symptoms, it's unlikely your doctor will suggest 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 about to faint, your physician might suggest medication for you, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers Making changes to your lifestyle in order to avoid triggers, such as caffeine, smoking and excessive stress, can also aid in reducing the frequency of occurrences of these abnormal pulses The following is a list of preventatives A person might not experience any symptoms whatsoever from PVCs or heart palpitations irregular heartbeats which can be felt as "skipped" beats or a fluttering sensation in the chest These episodes can trigger feelings of fullness or pressure, or they can make you feel faint These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as effectively as it should PVCs are associated with a higher chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy This is a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and unable to pump blood PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry This is due to the release of thyroid hormones and adrenaline, as well drinking alcohol or caffeine Lack of exercise can also trigger these episodes, as can stress or excess weight Certain people find that changing their diet can reduce the amount of PVCs For instance, they can avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause a disturbance to the heart rhythm, such as disodium guanylate E621 disodium inosinate E627 diazole sodium E282-283 You can also eat more vegetables and fruits to ensure that they get enough potassium and magnesium Regular health checks are crucial and include annual physicals These tests can help identify any heart-related conditions that could be causing your PVCs Also, you should refrain from smoking and adhere to an appropriate diet plan This could increase the frequency of episodes A survey of healthcare staff on 14 normal hospital wards showed that they were generally aware of the preventive measures to avoid vascular catheter-related infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these measures was poor The compliance improved following a feedback intervention however it was still very low on a few of the observed wards This suggests that training on how to implement preventive measures is required and that the wards which are less compliant should be targeted for infection surveillance This information could be used to guide the implementation of further quality improvement initiatives on these wards This will likely require further training and education for staff It will also be necessary to ensure that the right tools for implementing the preventive measures are available Signs and symptoms The premature contraction of the ventricular muscle can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or be fluttering These arrhythmias could be harmless, but they could indicate you are suffering from serious heart issues In healthy people, sporadic PVCs aren't a problem, and they usually go away by themselves If https//wwwrepairmywindowsanddoorscouk/acton-windowrepair/ from several of them, they may cause dizziness or weakness Consult your doctor if you're concerned You might be required to provide a medical history, and they may also conduct an examination of the body to identify the issue They may also conduct an electrocardiogram ECG or EKG or other tests A short ECG test will allow your doctor to observe the pulse of your heart going through your body over a a short period of time The test will determine whether you have PVCs Your doctor might also want to perform an overnight or 24-hour Holter monitor which monitors your heartbeat over longer periods of time These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias that cause heart palpitations You could also be wearing a 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 instance, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure, and also perform an ultrasound of your heart echocardiogram These tests will determine if you suffer from a condition such as heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy Your doctor might also need to run an examination of your blood to determine what the problem is with your electrolytes such as low potassium or high calcium levels This could be a sign that you suffer from PVCs or another problem such as anemia, or anxiety disorders You may be referred to an electrophysiologist a specialist who specializes in treating heart rhythms that are abnormal If you have heart disease that is structural the specialist may have to perform additional tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest These tests will tell you whether you've suffered damage to your heart, and how serious it is In some cases, the doctor may recommend the use of a pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is creating your PVCs