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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.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that typically starts your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they can also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of living. window doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or flutters, and you may feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress levels by taking enough rest and working out.
If you have a lot of PVCs The doctor may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In certain cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then expand to push blood into your lungs, and return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different place, the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left side of the heart.
When PVCs happen, the heart may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects how the heart pumps blood should take their PVCs seriously and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if you don't experience any other indications however, you should have PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor is often able to tell whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason, such as after an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medications that could be able to reduce these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or occur rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you experience them frequently, your doctor may want to look for other heart issues and recommend 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 that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. They're more common among people with heart problems however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercise.
A doctor should conduct an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are due to physical activity. To find out whether there are any other causes for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI can be performed.
Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Some medicines may also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some people may need a heart transplant.
