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Why It's Important to See a Doctor Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are typically not dangerous and may go away by themselves. Doctors will listen to your heartbeat and look for other vitals signs. They may also order an Holter Monitor, which records the electrical impulses generated by your heart over a span of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also order blood tests to check your thyroid hormones and electrolyte levels. Diagnosis PVCs are caused by electrical impulses coming from the heart's lower chambers ventricles, or lower chambers, fail to pass through a structure referred to as the SA node. This causes the next heartbeat to be delayed, causing the sensation of fluttering or skipped beats. PVCs can occur in one pattern or repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets. Three or more consecutive PVCs constitute ventricular tachycardia (VT). Some people don't experience any symptoms at all Some experience palpitations, that can be felt as an irregular heartbeat or a pounding. Other symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, or feeling unwell. Many people who have occasional PVCs don't need any treatment. If a person experiences frequent episodes, doctors might recommend a change in the way of life or diet including a reduction in alcohol, caffeine and stress. They might prescribe medications such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers that lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. Doctors will ask about the person's medical history and perform a physical examination to assess their general health. They may also use an electrocardiogram (ECG) to take an image of the heart's electrical activity, or a Holter monitor that is worn for longer time periods and monitors the heart's rhythms over time. In certain instances doctors may require blood tests to check for an electrolyte imbalance or toxic effects from drugs. Sometimes, a pvc doctor will refer a patient to a specialist in heart rhythm problems, or an electrophysiologist, to conduct a further examination. This specialist can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine if they are benign or not. PVCs are everywhere and aren't usually harmful when used frequently or for long periods of time. This can lead to a weakened in the heart muscle or a condition known as pvc-induced cardiac myopathy. This is more prevalent in older people or people suffering from heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with a normal heart, although this is more likely in those who exercise regularly. It's not a serious concern, but it is important to speak with an expert 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, for those who feel your heart is lagging a beat or is racing, it's important to speak to a doctor as soon as you can. A cardiologist will begin by interviewing you and doing an examination of your body, listening to your heart with a stethoscope for any irregular heartbeats. You'll also undergo an electrocardiogram, which records the electrical impulses of your heart, allowing you to identify any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is identified it is recommended to have a 24-hour Holter monitor or another portable ECG is required to detect the irregular rhythm for longer durations of time. These devices will help doctors determine whether you have PVCs, and their cause like an imbalance in electrolytes, drug toxicity or other causes. You may 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 which could lead to 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 have blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone and magnesium, potassium, and other hormones to determine whether they're low. This could lead to PVCs. Once windows doctor has confirmed that you suffer from PVCs and has eliminated any serious illnesses, the decision on how to treat them will depend on the degree to which they're affecting your life and how frequently they occur. If they only occur occasionally and don't trigger any symptoms, it's unlikely that your doctor will prescribe any medication to lessen the frequency or severity of them. If you experience frequent PVCs that can trigger pulses or other symptoms, like feeling lightheaded or fainting, your physician may prescribe medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Changes in your lifestyle, such as abstaining from smoking, caffeine and stress levels that are excessive can also reduce the frequency of these irregular pulses. Prevention PVCs can cause no symptoms or heart palpitations that can feel like “skipped beats” or flutters in the chest. Sometimes, these episodes trigger the chest to feel full or swollen in the chest. Other times they can make a person feel faint. These episodes are caused by the heart not pumping as effectively as it should. PVCs are linked to an increased chance of developing dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a condition where the heart becomes enlarged and in a position to not pump blood. PVCs often are caused by changes in the body's chemical chemistry. This can be caused by the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones as well as drinking alcohol or caffeine. A lack of exercise can also trigger these episodes and stress, as well as excessive weight. Some people have found that a change in diet can reduce their PVCs. They can, for example, avoid foods that contain preservatives that can cause a disturbance of the heart rhythm. These include disodium Guanylate, diazole, and disodium inosinate sodium (E282-283). Eat more fruits and veggies to get sufficient magnesium. It is important to get regular health checks, which include annual physicals and lab tests. They can aid in identifying any heart issues which could be causing your PVCs. It is also recommended to refrain from smoking and adhere to an appropriate diet program. This can increase your frequency of episodes. A survey of 14 typical hospital wards found that healthcare workers were generally aware of preventive measures against infections caused by vascular catheters, however their self-assessment of conformity to these practices was low. The compliance improved following feedback interventions, but was still lower on some of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that training is required on how to implement preventive measures and those wards that are not conforming should be targeted for infection monitoring. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This will most likely require additional education and training of personnel. It will also be important to ensure that the correct materials for implementing the preventive measures are in place. Symptoms Involuntary ventricular contractions that are premature can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or to flutter. These arrhythmias aren't necessarily dangerous or they could be the sign of heart problems. In healthy people, occasional PVCs aren't an issue and they generally disappear on their own. If you've got a lot of them, it 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 need to provide a medical history, and they may also conduct a physical examination in order to identify the issue. They might also perform an electrocardiogram or other tests. A short ECG test allows your doctor to see the heartbeat signal moving through your body over the course of a brief period. The test will determine whether you have PVCs. Your doctor may also suggest a Holter monitor that tracks your heartbeat over a longer amount of time. These tests can help differentiate PVCs from arrhythmias causing heart palpitations. You could also carry a device that can record your heart rhythm over 30 days, called an event monitor. Other heart tests might be needed, depending on the reason for your PVCs. For example, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure and do an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). These tests can determine whether you are suffering from an illness like heart failure or mitral valve prolapse or cardiomyopathy. Your doctor may also have to do a blood test to see what is wrong with your electrolytes for example, low potassium levels or high calcium levels. This could be a sign that you have PVCs or another problem such as anemia, or anxiety disorders. You may be referred to an electrophysiologist who is able to treat abnormal heart rhythms. If you suffer from heart disease that is structural, this specialist might need to conduct additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine whether your heart is damaged and the severity of the damage. In some cases, the doctor might suggest an implantable pacemaker or ICD to treat the condition that is causing your PVCs.