How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs with no problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they could also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of living. Your doctor may prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health issues. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart skipping one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower your stress levels by taking enough rest and working out.
If you're suffering from lots of PVCs the window doctor doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the glass doctor future. In some cases it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can cause stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. A pvc doctor starts in a different place in the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat or feel like it skipped the beat. If you only have one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. If you've got a number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge the heart's rate over 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered an earlier heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol 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 don't have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, particularly when they're intense or frequent. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes, however, they may not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason, like following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used if there's any concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all you need. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your physician about the medications that may be able to reduce these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may need to examine for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people who suffer from heart issues however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercising.
A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor window will also likely conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other causes of the increased beats.
Most people with PVCs have no complications and can lead the normal life. They could increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.
A healthy, regular diet and plenty of exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as limit caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to get enough rest and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you take any of these medications, it is important that you follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some patients may require an organ transplant.