How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a bundle 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 from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that usually initiates your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed 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 fluttering. They can occur rarely without causing any symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to affect your standard of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if the PVCs result from conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, may increase the risk.
If you have occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce stress by taking enough rest and exercising.
If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that cause them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In certain cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in a stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, may make your heart seem to skip or flutter a beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals start at the sinoatrial junction, located in the top right side of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is racing or pounding. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs and your doctor might recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
If you've had an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
If you have frequent PVCs even if don't have any other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any problems. They would like to know if rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they are frequent or intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their health or heart. window doctors repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to look at the heart and see how it's functioning.
A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect heart disease if there is any concern.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, talk to your doctor about medication that may be able to reduce them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You could also have a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. It's unclear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people who have other heart conditions. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and could be more frequent during exercises.
A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other reasons for the increased beats.
Most people with PVCs do not have any issues and can lead an ordinary life. They can increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also limit caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to sleep enough and manage stress. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in certain patients.