How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that typically starts your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. Frequent PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly when the PVCs result from conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, may increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain drinks and foods, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress levels by having enough sleep and exercising.
If you have many PVCs the doctor might recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can lead to stroke. It is not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip the beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right side of the heart. These signals move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different location that is separate from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you have only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not prescribe treatment. If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered an earlier heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you have frequent PVCs even if do not have other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can point to an issue with the structure of your heart or other health conditions, and over time, if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can 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 happen with exercise, though many athletes who get them don't have any problems in their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to examine the heart and see how it's functioning.
A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease when there is a reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medications that could help control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your doctor might want to look for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You might also get an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes these, but they're more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercising.
window doctors repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings, a heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed.
The majority of people with PVCs have no complications and can live the normal life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to get enough rest and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor regarding healthy eating and exercising as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need an organ transplant.