How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that typically begins your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) isn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. window doctors can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to impact your quality of living. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart racing a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident if you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, may increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs The doctor may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter one beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you might be advised to consult your physician when they occur frequently or if you experience 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 propel the blood into your lungs and return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC starts in a different location, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if you have a lot of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
If you've had a previous heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat like a beta blocker.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They would like to know if irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who experience them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and see how it's working.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. However, sometimes they will not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used in the event of any suspicion of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all you need. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and over-the drug decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor about medications that can control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercising.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are caused by physical exercise. To find out whether there are any other causes for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.
The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues and can live a normal life. They can increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and plenty of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medications can increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important that you follow your doctor's recommendations regarding healthy eating exercising, as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Some patients may require a heart transplant.