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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and may be experienced by many people without causing any problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.

The heart's rhythm is controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse is generated 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. They may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to affect your standard of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

For most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping a beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain foods or beverages. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.

If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In some instances it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can cause a stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lung. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but 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 gauge the heart's rate over a 24-hour period. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.





People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat like a beta blocker.

Even if there aren't any other signs however, you should have PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur often. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of an issue with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time if they occur often enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs might be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they are frequent or intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who get them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to look at the heart and see how it's working.

A doctor can often tell the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect heart disease if there is any reason to be concerned.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can help. 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, speak to your doctor about possible treatments that could help control them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If you are frequently affected, your doctor may want to examine for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more frequently during exercise.

A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other reasons for the increased beats.

The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In window doctor , this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout the body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to sleep enough and manage stress. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you're taking one of these drugs it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can result in the need for a transplant in some individuals.