How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. If they are frequent, 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 are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers 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) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. Regular PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart skipping a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. People with chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It 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 which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can cause stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place in the Purkinje fibers are located in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat or feel like it skipped the beat. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for 24 hours. double glazing 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 a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps blood should be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other indications, you should still get PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues. They would like to know if fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them have no heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor can often tell whether a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of heart disease.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak with your physician about possible treatments that could help control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your doctor might want to examine for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercises.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs, a physician is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other reasons for the additional beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. They may increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking one of these drugs it is important to follow your doctor's instructions regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a transplant in certain individuals.