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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 the risk of heart failure.

The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.





Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.

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

PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart beating an beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lessen your stress levels by having enough sleep and working out.

If you have many PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells responsible for them. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can cause stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip one beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.

Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right portion of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lung. window doctor near me return to the heart's center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.

If you've had an earlier heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you do not have other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health issues. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's functioning.

A doctor may be able to determine if a person is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes, they may only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used in the event of any suspicion of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. However, 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 help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor about treatments that could help control the symptoms.

Treatment

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

If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more frequently during exercises.

A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are due to physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other causes of the extra beats.

Most people with PVCs do not have any issues and can live a normal life. They can increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.

Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require a heart transplant.