How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.
In window doctors , PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart skipping one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise, or consume certain foods or beverages. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you stay away from certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can lead to stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor when they occur frequently or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles then expand to push blood into your lungs and then return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A PVC starts at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs happen, the heart may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. However, if you have large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heartbeat over 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time to determine how many PVCs you have.
If you've suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps bloodand should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if you don't experience any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These irregular heartbeats could indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're intense or frequent. People who experience them often may feel weak. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's functioning.
A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized if there's any concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and over-the counter decongestants, and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about treatments that could help control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or has a few extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercise.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. To determine whether there are any other causes for the extra beatings the heart catheterization or cardiac MRI can be performed.
Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, 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 can lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is essential to follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating and exercising as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in a need for a heart transplant in certain people.