How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of living. Your doctor may prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.
If you're suffering from lots of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause a stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you may need to see your doctor if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles expand to pump blood into the lung. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart pound or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps blood -- should be aware of their PVCs and talk to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if do not have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any problems. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently might feel faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning.
A doctor is often able to tell whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect cardiac disease if there is any concern.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could be able to control them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems, but it's not known what causes them. window doctors are more likely to occur as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercises.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs doctors is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical activity. To find out if there are other causes for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and live a normal life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is essential that you follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can result in the need for a heart transplant in certain individuals.