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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of 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-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an irregular 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 may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to affect your standard of living. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. A lot of PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially when the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can increase the risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. This procedure is performed by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can cause stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter a beat. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node, located in the top right portion of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs and then return to your heart and start the next pumping cycle. But a PVC starts at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel like it skipped the beat. If you have only one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not treat you. However, if you have large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. the window doctor include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if you don't have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's functioning.
A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used when there is a concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and over-the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that could help reduce the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might need to examine for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart problems. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercise.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs doctors is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor will also likely perform an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are due to physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. They could increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.
A healthy, regular diet and regular exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important that you follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in the need for a transplant in a few individuals.
