How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs with no problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. A lot of PVCs however, could weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise, or consume certain drinks or foods. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may have to stay clear of certain foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce stress by having enough sleep and working out.
If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in a stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter the beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lung. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped a beat. If you only have one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge the heart's rate over 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time to see how many PVCs you have.
If you've had an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, a condition which affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, like beta blockers.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you do not have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of an issue with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skipping heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, particularly when they're intense or frequent. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor can often tell whether 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 patients for a different reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect heart disease in the event of any concern.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could help. Regular exercise and 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 these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you are frequently affected, your doctor may want to examine for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If window doctor near me repairmywindowsanddoors have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs can increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercise.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs doctors is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are due to physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI can be performed.
Most people with PVCs don't experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also crucial. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is essential to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding healthy eating exercising, as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Some people may need a heart transplant.