How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically regulates the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or is fluttering. They can occur rarely without causing any symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

In most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health issues. A lot of PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart racing a beat, or fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise, or consume certain foods or beverages. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.

If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases, it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could lead to stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractures PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs and then return to your heart to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a pvc Doctor begins at a different spot, from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs happen, the heart may appear to be beating faster or slower. If you only have just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not be able to treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge the heart's rate over a 24-hour period. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.

If you've suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -which alters the way the heart pumps blood should be aware of their PVCs and speak with a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.

If you have frequent PVCs even if don't have any other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues. They would like to know if rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they are frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently might feel faint. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who get them don't have any problems with their health or heart. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to look at the heart and observe how it's working.

Most of the time, a door doctor near me will be able to identify if someone is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your physician about the medications that may be able to control these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If you have them often, your doctor may want to check for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.

If you have PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart problems. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and could be more frequent during exercises.

A physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are caused by physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings an invasive heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI is possible.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and live an ordinary life. They could increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. So if you take one of these drugs, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.

Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in some patients.