How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. If repairmywindowsanddoors occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your standard of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine in the event that they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs result from a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which could lead to heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating an beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.
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, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress levels by taking enough rest and exercising.
If you're suffering from many PVCs the doctor might recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can lead to stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might need to see your doctor if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node, located in the upper right portion of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you experience only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time to see how many PVCs you have.
People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood -and should take their PVCs seriously and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing 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 however, you should have PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats may signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent or intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor will usually be able to determine the presence of PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. 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 also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used if there's any concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your physician about the medications that could help manage them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might be able to look for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart conditions. PVCs can increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercising.
A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are due to physical exercise. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beatings the heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted.
Most people with PVCs have no complications and can lead a normal life. They could increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm disorders, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to get enough rest and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is essential that you follow the advice of your doctor regarding healthy eating exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require a heart transplant.