How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the 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 regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) isn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels like it's fluttering. They can occur rarely without causing any symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to impact your quality of living. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
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. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In some instances it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to a stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might want to consult your doctor when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right-hand side of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different location that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, the heart may feel like it is beating faster or slower. If you only have one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not prescribe treatment. If you've got a number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure your heart rate over 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
If you've had a previous heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the way the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, like beta blockers.
Even if there aren't any other indications, you should still get PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could point to a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any issues. They want to know if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent or intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. 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 can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor is often able to tell whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used when there is a concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, speak to your doctor about medications that can control them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If Suggested Site experience them frequently, your doctor may want to look for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people who have other heart issues. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercising.
A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are due to physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be conducted to determine other causes of the additional beats.
The majority of people with PVCs are not affected and live a normal life. They could increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and a lot of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require a heart transplant.