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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and may be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.

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

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to interfere with your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.

PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce stress by having enough sleep and working out.

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





Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contracts or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right portion of the heart. These signals descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then expand to push blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart to start the next pumping cycle. double glazing doctor starts at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs happen they can make the heart feel as if it's beating faster or slower. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time to see how many PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, a condition which affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. Those include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.

If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you do not have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could point to a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but most athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health problems. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

Often, a doctor will be able to identify if a person is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a concerns.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk to your doctor about medications that can control these symptoms.

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If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or occur rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may need to examine for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.

If you suffer from PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes these, but they're more common in people who have other heart issues. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercise.

A doctor should conduct an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be performed to find other reasons for the increased beats.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can lead the normal life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to get enough rest and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking one of these medicines it is important to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Certain people may require a heart transplant.