How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by many people without causing any issues. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that typically begins your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your standard of living. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.
the window doctor are generally safe and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Over 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-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you're experiencing a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can result in stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you might need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right-hand side of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel blood into the lungs, and return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC begins in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs happen, the heart may feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered previously from a heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, can weaken your heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, particularly when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently might feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and observe how it's working.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if someone is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. But sometimes they might only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, for instance following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect cardiac disease when there is a concern.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all you need. However, if your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your physician about the medications that could be able to manage these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If you experience them frequently, your doctor may want to check for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you suffer from PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercise.
A doctor should conduct an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be done to look for other causes of the additional beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and can 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 some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally important. Some medicines may also increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need an organ transplant.