How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people without causing any problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they can also happen frequently enough to affect your quality of living. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid some drinks and foods like alcohol and caffeine. window doctor can also take steps to reduce your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you're experiencing lots of PVCs, he may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In certain cases, it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause a stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician when they occur frequently or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lung. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if you have a lot of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
If you've had a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat such as a beta blocker.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you do not have other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats may be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any issues. They would like to know if rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also occur during training, even though many athletes who experience them do not have any issues with their health or heart. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and see how it's working.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if the patient has PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason, like following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease if there is any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medication that could help reduce them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or occur rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your doctor might want to check for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercise.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other causes for the extra beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and live the normal life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your risk 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. Stress and sleep are also crucial. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is crucial to follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Some people may need an organ transplant.