How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people without causing any issues. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your 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 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 the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse is generated in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they could also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of living. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially when the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase their risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells responsible for them. This is done by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can lead to stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
The electrical signals typically begin at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right-hand side of the heart. These signals descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel the blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart and start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat or feel like it skipped a beat. If you have only just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time to see the number of PVCs you have.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if you don't experience any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These extra heartbeats may signal a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they are frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. They can also occur during training, even though many athletes who suffer from them do not have any issues with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor can often tell whether a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes however, they might only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized if there's any concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about medication options to treat them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to look for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercises.
A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other causes for the additional beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout the body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. window doctors near me should 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 important. Some medicines may also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is essential that you follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of 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.