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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.





A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse starts in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart beating one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more apparent if you exercise, or eat or drink 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 their risk.

If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen stress by taking enough rest and exercising.

If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In some instances it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart seem to flutter or skip the beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might be advised to consult your physician if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right portion of the heart. These signals descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and then return to your 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 lower left part of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.

People who have had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps bloodand must be aware of their PVCs and speak with a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.

If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They are interested in knowing if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they are frequent or intense. People who get lots of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's functioning.

Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if someone has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes it is possible that they only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk with your physician about possible medication options to treat these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might need to examine for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.

If you have PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. They're more common among people suffering from heart disease however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more frequently during exercises.

If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs doctors should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are a result of physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can live the normal life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid window doctor in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also important. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. So if you take one of these drugs, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.

In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Some patients may require an organ transplant.