How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
Repair My Windows And Doors of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) isn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they could also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of living. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.
For 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 especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy 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 it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may 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 suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.
If you have many 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 execute this procedure. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can lead to stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles then contract to propel the blood into the lungs, and return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC begins in a different place that is separate from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you only have one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. If you have many PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.
People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. Those include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if you don't have any other indications however, you should have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't have any issues. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor may be able to tell whether someone is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used when there is a concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling, or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the prescription decongestants, as well as 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 continue or are severe, speak to your doctor about medications that can control them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If you are frequently affected, your doctor may want to check for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. It's unclear what causes these, but they're more frequent in those with other heart conditions. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercising.
A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beats the heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. They can increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some instances, this means the heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also important. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is crucial to follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Some people may need a heart transplant.