How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.

The heart's rhythm is controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually begins your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) isn't. Instead, the impulse is generated in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

For most people, PVCs are harmless window and door doctor aren't likely to increase your risk of heart disease or other health issues. Frequent PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart disease like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more apparent when 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 are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.

If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that cause them. This procedure is performed by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can cause stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right-hand side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different location in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the bottom left of the heart.

When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may appear to be skipping a beat or pounding. If you have only a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge the heart's rate over a 24-hour period. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.

People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, a condition which affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.

If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you do not have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could point to a problem with the structure of your heart or other health conditions, and over time, when they are frequent enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.

Diagnosis

PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, particularly when they're frequent or intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who suffer from them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to examine the heart and observe how it's working.

Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if a person has PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. However, sometimes they will not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a concerns.

If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the prescription decongestants, as well as the reduction of stress could aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about medications that can control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or are not frequent generally, they don't require treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercises.

A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible.

Most people with PVCs are not affected and can live an ordinary life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also limit caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is essential that you follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients with Pvc doctor burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some people may need an organ transplant.