How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) usually controls your heart's rhythm. 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 in a part called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) isn't. Instead, the impulse starts in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart-related condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping one beat, or even fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more apparent if you exercise, or consume certain drinks or foods. window doctor are more common in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can increase the risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you stay away from certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have lots of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In some instances it may increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause a stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to push the blood into the lung. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibres bundle in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you have only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. But if you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.
Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps blood -and must be aware of their PVCs and speak with a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medications to slow heartbeat, such as a beta blocker.
If you have frequent PVCs even if don't have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs don't have any issues. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent or intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who experience them do not have any issues in their heart or health. 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 coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor can often tell if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease if there is any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. If your symptoms are bothersome, or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and reducing stress may help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about medication options to treat the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may be able to look for heart problems or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's not known what causes them, but they're more common in people who have other heart conditions. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and could be more frequent during exercising.
A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are a result of physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be performed to find other causes of the increased beats.
Most people with PVCs do not suffer from any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also important. Certain medications can increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is essential to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet exercising, as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in some people.