How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from 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 called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and not cause any symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to interfere with your daily life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to avoid some drinks and foods like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress levels, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you're suffering from lots of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can cause stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or 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. A PVC starts in a different location that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped a beat. If you only have just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure the heart's rate over 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heart rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.
Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood - must be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if don't have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur frequently enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any problems. They are interested in knowing if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who suffer from them don't have any problems with their health or heart. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to tell whether a person is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect cardiac disease when there is a concerns.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and decreasing stress can aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak with your physician about possible treatments that could help control them.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or occur rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
When you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercise.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs doctors should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other causes for the extra beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and live the normal life. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases 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 chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also limit caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and the window doctor are also important. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medications, it's important to follow the doctor's advice about a health
