How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people without causing any issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse starts in another area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to interfere with your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially when the PVCs result from a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart beating a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can cause a stroke. This isn't common however it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to consult your physician when 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, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to push the blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different location that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur, the heart may appear to be racing or pounding. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.
If you've had previously from a heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the way the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medications to slow heartbeat, for example, a beta blocker.
Even if you don't have any other signs however, you should have PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These extra heartbeats can point to a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and observe how it's working.
A doctor is often able to tell whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used if there's any concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and over-the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your physician about the medications that could help control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to check for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. double glazing doctor near me can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercise.
A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be performed to find other causes for the extra beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can lead the normal life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from 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 the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important to follow your doctor's advice regarding eating a healthy diet, exercising, and taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need an organ transplant.