How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable if you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress levels, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you're experiencing many PVCs The doctor may 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 typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain cases it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles contract to propel blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart to start the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC begins in a different place, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heart rate over 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
If you've had previously from a heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you do not have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, can weaken your heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not have any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's functioning.
A doctor may be able to identify if someone has PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine the patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. However, if the window doctor are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about medication options to treat these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or occur rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercises.
A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are a result of physical exercise. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beatings, a heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.
Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. They may increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking one of these medications, it's important to follow the doctor's advice regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can lead to the need for a transplant in a few patients.