How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people without causing any problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse starts in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur rarely and not cause any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. A lot of PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly when the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some drinks and foods like alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you have many PVCs the doctor might recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can lead to stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node, which is in the top right portion of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lung. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different location, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel like it skipped the beat. If you only have one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not prescribe treatment. If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects how the heart pumps bloodand should take their PVCs seriously and speak with a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if you don't experience any other signs, you should still get PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs might be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they are frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly might feel faint. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who get them don't have any problems with their health or heart. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine the presence of PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a concern.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor about possible medications that can control them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle changes. You may also undergo a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. window doctors 's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're frequent in those with other heart issues. PVCs are more frequent as we age and can occur more often during exercising.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the chances 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 your risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking one of these drugs it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This can result in the need for a transplant in some patients.