How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually starts 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, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor might 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. window doctors near me Repair My Windows And Doors can also lower your stress by taking enough rest and exercising.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in a stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node, located in the top right side of the heart. These signals descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to push the blood into the lungs. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts at a different spot, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel like it is beating faster or slower. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 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 have cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and talk to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you have frequent PVCs even if you do not have other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're frequent or intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. Exercise can cause them, but most athletes who experience them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine the patient for another reason, like following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems if there is any concern.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that could be able to control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you have them often and frequently, your doctor might want to look for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. It's unclear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart conditions. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercising.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other reasons for the extra beats.
Most people with PVCs do not have any issues and can lead a normal life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in the need for a heart transplant in a few patients.