How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) usually controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that typically starts your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) isn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your standard of living. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs result from a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase the risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may 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 get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you're experiencing a lot of PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases it may increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in a stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, but you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart and start the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC starts at a different spot and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs happen, the heart may feel as if it's beating faster or slower. If you have only just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.
Anyone who has suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to examine the heart and observe how it's functioning.
A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. However, sometimes they will only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They may be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a concerns.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are bothersome, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medications that could help manage them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If you experience them frequently, your doctor may want to look for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. window doctor may also undergo a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercising.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can lead an ordinary life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.
A healthy, regular diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is essential that you follow y
