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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people without causing any 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 part of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen by the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart skipping one beat, or even fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower your stress levels by having enough sleep and working out.
If you're experiencing a lot of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. This is done by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could lead to a stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, however you might need to see your doctor if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lung. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins at a different spot and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medications to slow heartbeat, like beta blockers.
Even if you don't have any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They would like to know if rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who experience them often might feel faint. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who get them do not have any issues with their health or heart. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to look at the heart and see how it's working.
Often, a doctor will be able to identify if someone has PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized if there's any concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also reduce your episodes of PVCs. If window doctor continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about medication options to treat the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or occur rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your doctor might want to check for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than at 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 not clear what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and could be more frequent during exercises.
A doctor should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical activity. To find out whether there are any other causes for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible.
The majority of people with PVCs are not affected and live a normal life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medications can increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is crucial that you follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in some individuals.
