How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by many people without causing any issues. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they can happen often enough to impact your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true 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.
PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart racing an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may have to stay clear of certain foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress levels by getting enough sleep and working out.
If you're suffering from lots of PVCs the doctor might 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, 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), a condition that can cause stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts at a different spot in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart pound or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that 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 - should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, for example, a beta blocker.
Even if you don't have any other indications it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats can point to problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. window doctor repairmywindowsanddoors who experience a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also happen with exercising, but most athletes who suffer from them do not have any issues with their health or heart. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor may be able to determine if the patient has PVCs from a history and physical exam. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk to your doctor about medications that can control them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to examine for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
When you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercise.
A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other causes of the extra beats.
Most people with PVCs are not affected and live an ordinary life. They can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Some medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important that you follow your doctor's recommendations regarding healthy eating and exercising as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require an organ transplant.