How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. 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 part of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node 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 known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse is generated in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they can happen often enough to interfere with your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise, or consume certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In certain cases it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to a stroke. This isn't common however it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart appear to flutter or skip one beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lung. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different location in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs happen, the heart may appear to be racing or pounding. If you experience only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered previously from a heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other symptoms however, you should have PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent or intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also occur during training, even though many athletes who get them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning.
A doctor can often tell if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of heart disease.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter 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 the symptoms persist or are severe, speak with your physician about possible medications that can control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you have them often, your doctor may want to examine for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more frequent in those with other heart issues. PVCs may increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercising.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs doctors should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are due to physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beats an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted.
the window doctor who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can lead a normal life. They could increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, that means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as limit caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medications can increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Certain people may require a heart transplant.