How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any issues. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to interfere with your daily life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health problems. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase the risk.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid some foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress levels by getting enough sleep and exercising.
If you have many PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can result in stroke. This is rare however it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals start at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right-hand side of the heart. These signals move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and then return to your heart to start the next pumping cycle. A PVC begins in a different place, the Purkinje fibers are located in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you only have a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
People who have had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood -and should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
Even if you don't have any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, can weaken your heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They are interested in knowing 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 a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who suffer from them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether a person is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical exam. Sometimes, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect heart disease if there is any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as reducing stress may help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk to your doctor about possible medication options to treat these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may need to examine for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If window doctors near me have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or has a few extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more often during exercising.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs doctors should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor will also likely perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be performed to find other causes of the increased beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and live the normal life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Some medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is crucial to follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can lead to the need for a transplant in some individuals.