How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that typically starts your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed 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 like it's fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine in the event that they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Regular PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you experience frequent PVCs, your physician may suggest that you stay away from certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells responsible for them. This is done by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally successful in treating the 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 stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel like it skipped one beat. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time to see the number of PVCs you have.
People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects how the heart pumps blood- must be aware of their PVCs and speak with a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include 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 experience frequent PVCs even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular could indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They would like to know if fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and observe how it's working.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if someone is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical exam. But sometimes they might only notice them while examining the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. 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 concerns.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and over-the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that may be able to manage these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your doctor might want to look for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercising.
A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are due to physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the extra beatings an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible.
The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. However, window doctors near me can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
A regular, healthy diet and regular exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Certain people may require an organ transplant.