How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people without causing any issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they could occur frequently enough to impact your quality of living. 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. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident if you exercise, or consume certain foods or beverages. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs your windows doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may have to stay clear of certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lessen stress by having enough sleep and working out.
If you have many PVCs Your upvc doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells 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 becoming recurring in the future. In certain cases, it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to a stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right portion of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to push the blood into the lung. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a pvc doctor near me starts at a different spot and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may appear to be racing or pounding. If you only have just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs very seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. This includes the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
Even if you don't have any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they are frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. They can also happen with exercising, but most athletes who get them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and observe how it's functioning.
A doctor can often tell the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes however, they might only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized when there is a concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and decreasing stress can help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your physician about the medications that may be able to control them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might be able to look for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more common in people who have other heart problems. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercises.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The door doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are due to physical exercise. To find out whether there are any other causes for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also limit caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally important. Some medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from high Pvc doctor burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can result in the need for a heart transplant in certain patients.