How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates your heart rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health problems. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can cause heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase their risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress levels by having enough sleep and exercising.
If you're experiencing many PVCs, he may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can result in stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you might need to see 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 area, which is located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs and then return to your heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot in the Purkinje fibers are located in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure the heart's rate over a 24-hour period. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered a previous heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. This includes the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if do not have other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats may signal a problem with 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 issues. They want to know if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who experience them do not have any issues with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. the window doctor use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to tell whether someone is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect cardiac disease in the event of any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medications that could help reduce them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle changes. You might also get an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has extra beats. They're more common among people suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and may be more frequent during exercises.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor will also likely perform an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical activity. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beats the heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.
A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor regarding healthy eating exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require a heart transplant.