How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) usually controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they could also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping one beat, or even fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress levels, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that cause them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can cause stroke. window doctors is not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right-hand side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and then return to the heart to start the next pumping cycle. But a PVC begins at a different spot, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel like it skipped one beat. If you only have one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can point to problems with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs don't experience any issues. They are interested in knowing if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're intense or frequent. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. They can also happen with exercising, but most athletes who get them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor can often tell the presence of PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes, however, they may not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason, like following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease if there is any concern.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. However, if your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak with your physician about possible medications that can control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If you have them often and frequently, your doctor might want to look for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. It's unclear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people who have other heart conditions. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercises.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be done to look for other causes for the extra beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. They can increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some instances, this means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can result in the need for a transplant in some people.