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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs with no problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel 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 known as the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they can happen often enough to interfere with your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart skipping a beat, or fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more apparent if you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to avoid some drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower stress by getting enough sleep and working out.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can lead to stroke. This isn't common however it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right portion of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and then return to your heart and start the next pumping cycle. A PVC starts in a different place that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left side of the heart.
When PVCs happen, the heart may feel as if it's beating faster or slower. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.
Anyone who has suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
Even if you don't have any other indications however, you should have PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen often. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate problems with the structure of your heart or other health conditions, and over time, if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. They can also occur with training, even though many athletes who get them don't have issues 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 on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor may be able to determine if the patient has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. However, sometimes they will only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance following 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 if there is any concern.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that may be able to control them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
When window doctor have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. They're more common among people suffering from heart disease however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent as we age and can occur more often during exercises.
A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are due to physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the increased beats the heart catheterization or cardiac MRI can be performed.
The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any complications and can lead an ordinary life. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.
A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as limit caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is essential that you follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This could lead to a need for a heart transplant in a few people.
