How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they could be frequent enough to affect your quality of living. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
window doctor near me are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. People with chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lessen your stress levels by taking enough rest and working out.
If you're experiencing lots of PVCs The doctor may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In some instances, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in a stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter one beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician if they are frequent or if you experience symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node, located in the top right-hand side of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel like it skipped a beat. If you only have a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps bloodand should be aware of their PVCs and talk to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They are interested in knowing if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who get them don't have any problems with their health or heart. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor can often tell the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized when there is a concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are extreme, talk with your physician about possible treatments that could help control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. They're more common among people suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercising.
A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are a result of physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be done to look for other causes for the extra beats.
Most people with PVCs do not experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking one of these medicines it's crucial to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can result in the need for a transplant in certain patients.