How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse starts in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can occur rarely, causing no symptoms, but they can also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can lead to heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart racing a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid some drinks and foods like alcohol and caffeine. window doctor Repair My Windows And Doors can also take steps to lessen your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have lots of PVCs, he may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This is done by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can lead to stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals start at the sinoatrial junction, located in the upper right side of the heart. These signals travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different location in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel like it skipped one beat. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. However, if you have lot of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge the heart's rate over 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat such as beta blockers.
Even if you don't experience any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats can indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any problems. They would like to know if fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who get them do not have any issues with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if someone has PVCs from a history and physical exam. But sometimes they might only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used if there's any concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medications that may be able to manage the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If you have them often and frequently, your doctor might want to check for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercise.
A doctor should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are caused by physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the extra beatings the heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI could be conducted.
The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues and can lead an ordinary life. They can increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A healthy, regular diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medicines can also incre
