How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they occur often, 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 controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to interfere with your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if the PVCs are caused by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.

If you have occasional PVCs your upvc door doctor near me may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also lessen stress by getting enough sleep and working out.

If you have many PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that cause them. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is typically 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 having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. It is not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart appear to skip or flutter one beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, however you might need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node, located in the upper right side of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into the lungs, and return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different place that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.

When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel like it is beating faster or slower. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.

Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects how the heart pumps blood -- should be aware of their PVCs and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.

Even if you don't have any other indications, you should still get PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur often. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and skipping 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 cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.

A doctor may be able to tell whether someone has PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes however, they might only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used if there's any concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and decreasing stress can aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk with your physician about possible medications that can control them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If you have them often and frequently, your Window & Door doctor might want to examine for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or has a few extra beats. They're more common among people with heart problems however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercise.

A doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are due to physical exercise. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings, a heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI is possible.

Most people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and live the normal life. They may increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

A healthy and balanced diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.

Studies of patients suffering from an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in certain patients.