How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if the PVCs result from conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart skipping a beat, or fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you're experiencing many PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, may make your heart seem to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs, and return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A PVC starts in a different location in the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel like it skipped one beat. If you have only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. Those include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you have frequent PVCs even if you do not have any other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats can point to a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time when they happen frequently enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs don't have any issues. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's working.
A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used in the event of any suspicion of heart disease.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If double glazing doctor near me are troubling or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that could be able to manage these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
If you suffer from PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and may be more frequent during exercise.
A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are due to physical activity. To determine whether there are any other causes for the extra beatings the heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted.
The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any complications and can lead an ordinary life. They could increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to sleep enough and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you take 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 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 the need for a heart transplant in certain individuals.
