How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is 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 are caused when the electrical impulse which normally starts 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 part of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially when the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can cause heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating a beat, or fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a regular occurrence, you may have to avoid some foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen stress by getting enough sleep and working out.
If you have a lot of PVCs, he may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node, which is in the top right-hand side of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to push the blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different place, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel like it skipped a beat. If you have only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.
People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if do not have other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs don't experience any problems. door and window doctor want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if the patient has PVCs from a history and physical exam. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used when there is a concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk to your doctor about medications that can control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to check for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes these, but they're more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercise.
A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other causes for the increased beats.
Most people with PVCs have no complications and live a 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 the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and plenty of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Some medicines may also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important that you follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in a need for a heart transplant in certain patients.