How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically regulates the heart's rhythm. 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) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats are also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. Your doctor might prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that 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 can be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase the risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In some instances it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart appear to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, however you might need to see your doctor if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel like it skipped a beat. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps blood -and should be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other indications however, you should have PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, can weaken your heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them have no heart or health issues. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning.
A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease when there is a reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could help reduce these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. window doctors near me can feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercises.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs doctors should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other reasons for the increased beats.
The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues and live a normal life. They may increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is essential that you follow the advice of your doctor regarding eating a healthy diet exercising, as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Some people may need a heart transplant.