How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that typically begins your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it's fluttering. They can occur rarely and not cause any symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true 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 sensation of your heart beating one beat, or even fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable 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 chance of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress by having enough sleep and exercising.
If you have many PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. the window doctor eliminates the cells responsible for them. This procedure is performed by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can cause stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into the lungs, and return to the heart to start the next pumping cycle. But a PVC begins in a different place, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. However, if you have lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heart rate over a 24-hour period. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time to see how many PVCs you have.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, such as a beta blocker.
If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you do not have other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But most 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 frequent or intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. They can also occur with training, even though many athletes who suffer from them don't have issues in their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
Often, a doctor will be able to determine if someone has PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the prescription decongestants, as well as the reduction of stress could help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medications that could help manage the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes them, but they're more common in people who have other heart problems. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercises.
A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other causes of the increased beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and live the normal life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough rest and manage stress. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is essential that you follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had 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. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in certain individuals.