How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of 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 called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they could be frequent enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more apparent if you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase the risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor might recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In some instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause a stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, however you might need to see your doctor if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node, located in the top right side of the heart. These signals move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. window doctors near me contract to propel blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A PVC begins at a different spot in the Purkinje fibers are located in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel like it skipped one beat. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood - should be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if you don't experience any other symptoms however, you should have PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur often enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They are interested in knowing if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor may be able to identify if a person is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes, however, they may not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress can help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, speak with your physician about possible medication options to treat these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may want to check for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those with heart problems however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more often during exercising.
A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other causes for the increased beats.
Most people with PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough rest and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is crucial to 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 myopathy in the heart was observed. Some patients may require an organ transplant.