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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.

A bundle of fibers in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) isn't. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can occur rarely, causing no symptoms, but they can also happen frequently enough to affect your quality of living. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.

PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially when the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can increase their risk.

If you have occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress by taking enough rest and working out.

If you have many PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can lead to stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractures or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node, which is in the top right-hand side of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and return to the heart to start the next pumping cycle. But a PVC starts in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart pound or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you only have one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not prescribe treatment. If you've got a number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.

windows doctor who have suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the way the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, for example, beta blockers.

Even if there aren't any other indications it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical.

Diagnosis

PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who get lots of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also occur with training, even though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

window 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 be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect cardiac disease in the event of any concern.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about treatments that could help control them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to check for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. It's not clear what causes these, but they're more common in people who have other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and could be more frequent during exercises.





A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are caused by physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.

Most people with PVCs do not experience any complications and can lead an ordinary life. They may increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines, it's important to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to the need for a transplant in some individuals.