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.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel to ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They can occur rarely, causing no symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can also increase their risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain drinks and foods like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. It is not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you might be advised to consult your physician in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right portion of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel the blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart to start the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC begins in a different place 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 and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heartbeat over 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.
People who have had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects the way that the heart pumps blood -- should take their PVCs seriously and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, such as a beta blocker.
Even if you don't experience any other indications, you should still get PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who get lots of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests such as 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 study the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might not be aware of them until they examine the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized if there's any concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the prescription decongestants, as well as the reduction of stress could aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medication that may be able to control them.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to examine for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
When you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. It's unclear what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercise.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings, a heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI is possible.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these drugs, it's important to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. window doctors near me Repair My Windows And Doors can lead to the need for a transplant in some individuals.