How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.

The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually begins your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they could be frequent enough to affect your standard of living. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.

For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart racing an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident if you exercise, or consume certain foods or beverages. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress levels by having enough sleep and working out.

If you're suffering from a lot of 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 perform this procedure. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can result in stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractures or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should consult your physician in case 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 side of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into the lungs, and then return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. However, a Pvc Doctor starts 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 occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure your heart rate over 24 hours. He or she may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.

People who have had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood should be aware of their PVCs and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.

If you have frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time when they are frequent enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who experience them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning.

Often, a doctor will be able to identify if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used in the event of any suspicion of heart disease.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. However, if your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk with your physician about possible medication options to treat them.

Treatment

If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or occur rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they occur frequently your upvc doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you 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. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's not known what causes them, but they're more common in people who have other heart issues. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercising.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the upvc door doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are caused by physical exercise. To find out whether there are any other causes for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI is possible.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines it's crucial to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and 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. This could lead to the need for a transplant in a few people.