How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually initiates your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase the risk of heart disease. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. window doctor is especially when the PVCs result from a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or flutters, and you may feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some drinks and foods like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress by having enough sleep and exercising.
If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs The doctor may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can cause stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles expand to pump blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different place that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs happen they can make the heart feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
Anyone who has suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, a condition which affects the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, for example, beta blockers.
Even if there aren't any other signs however, you should have PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, if they occur often enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs don't have any issues. They would like to know if irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their health or heart. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's working.
A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, like following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used if there's any concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the prescription decongestants, as well as the reduction of stress could aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medications that could help reduce them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may want to check for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you have PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and could be more frequent during exercise.
A doctor should conduct an ECG along with an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are caused by physical activity. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beats an invasive heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed.
Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.
A regular, healthy diet and regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications, it's important to follow the doctor's advice about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Some people may need a heart transplant.
