How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart 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 travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that typically initiates your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your standard of life. Your doctor might 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. Regular PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart racing an beat, or fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a regular occurrence, you may have to avoid some foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress by taking enough rest and working out.
If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This procedure is performed by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can cause stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you may need to see your doctor when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right portion of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into the lungs, and return to the heart to start the next pumping cycle. A PVC starts at a different spot in the Purkinje fibres bundle at 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 only have just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not be able to treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects heart's blood flow - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. These include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if you do not have 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 occur often enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. Most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly might feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor will usually be able to determine the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only be able to detect PVCs when they examine patients for a different reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect cardiac disease if there is any concerns.
If window doctors near me Repair My Windows And Doors concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and over-the drug decongestants and decreasing stress can help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about possible treatments that could help control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle changes. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercising.
A doctor should conduct an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be done to look for other causes of the extra beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can lead an ordinary life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to sleep enough and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This could lead to a need for a heart transplant in certain people.
