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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed beat. 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 have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. A lot of PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise, or consume certain drinks or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to reduce your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that cause them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in a stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel 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. A PVC begins in a different place that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur they can make the heart appear to be beating faster or slower. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
If you've had previously from a heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These irregular heartbeats could point to a problem 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. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They are interested in knowing if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them often might feel faint. window doctor can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who get them don't have any problems in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and observe 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. But sometimes they might only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used if there's any concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could be able to reduce them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or occur rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercise.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs doctors should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also likely perform an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be done to look for other causes of the additional beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. They can increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as limit caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough sleep and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is essential to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Certain people may require an organ transplant.
