Pvc-Doctor-101-Its-The-Complete-Guide-For-Beginners-n

How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

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

The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to affect your quality of living. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.

For most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Regular PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or beverages. People with chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to stay clear of certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lessen your stress levels by getting enough sleep and exercising.

If you have many PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This procedure is performed by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain cases it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause a stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.





Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you might need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right-hand side of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lung. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different location, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left side of the heart.

When PVCs happen, the heart may feel as if it's beating faster or slower. If you experience only just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heart rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects how the heart pumps blood- must be aware of their PVCs and talk to 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 may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.

Even if you don't have any other indications however, you should have PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. windows doctor can be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who get them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether the patient is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor about medication options to treat these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to check for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You might also get an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node, which 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. It's not known 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.

If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. To determine whether there are any other causes for the extra beatings the heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and can lead the normal life. They could increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.

A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough rest and reduce stress. Some medicines may also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important to follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating and exercising as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This can result in the need for a transplant in certain people.