How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people with no cause for concern. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs are caused by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart racing a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower your stress levels by getting enough sleep and exercising.
If you're suffering from many PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it may increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in stroke. This is rare however it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as 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, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel the blood into the lungs, and then return to the heart and start the next pumping cycle. But a PVC begins at a different spot, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel like it is beating faster or slower. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.
If you've had an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. Those 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 symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These extra heartbeats can point to problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs don't experience any issues. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who suffer from them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to look at the heart and observe how it's working.
A doctor may be able to determine if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, like following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. However, if your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about possible medication options to treat them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart conditions. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercising.
A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other causes for the extra beats.
The majority of people with PVCs have no complications and can lead an ordinary life. window doctor near me could increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough sleep and manage stress. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is crucial 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% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require an organ transplant.