How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to affect your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Frequent PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart racing a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent if you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase their risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some drinks and foods like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you're suffering from lots of PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to stroke. It is not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you experience symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and then return to your heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs happen they can make the heart feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which alters the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak with a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, for example, beta blockers.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if don't have any other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular could signal a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They are interested in knowing if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. They can also occur with training, even though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their health or heart. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor is often able to tell whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress can help. 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, speak to your doctor about medications that may be able to reduce the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. 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 which creates your heartbeat is located outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and could be more frequent during exercises.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are due to physical activity. To determine whether there are other reasons for the increased beats the heart catheterization or cardiac MRI can be performed.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and can lead an ordinary life. the window doctors could increase the risk of developing 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 has difficulty pumping blood throughout the body.
A healthy and balanced diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you're taking one of these drugs it is important to follow the doctor's advice about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Some people may need a heart transplant.