How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.

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

Causes

PVCs are caused when 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 starts in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.

In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. A lot of PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating one beat, or egress home window repair jalousie window repair (agefrance3.Bravejournal.net) even fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can also increase their risk.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower stress by having enough sleep and exercising.

If you're suffering from lots of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. 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 occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition 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 are harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician if they are frequent or if you experience symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or new ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart and start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped a beat. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time to see how many PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects how the heart pumps blood - should be aware of their PVCs and talk to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist might also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat like beta blockers.

If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur frequently enough, can weaken your heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who get lots of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who suffer from them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

Often, a doctor will be able to identify if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine the patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used if there's any concern of heart disease.

If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and over the prescription decongestants, as well as 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 severe, talk to your doctor about possible medication options to treat the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or occur rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you are frequently affected, your doctor may want to examine for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes them, but they're more frequent in those with other heart issues. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercises.

If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs doctors is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are caused by physical activity. To find out whether there are any other causes for the extra beatings an invasive heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. They can increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.

A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. You should 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 the risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking one of these drugs, it's important to follow your doctor's recommendations about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.

Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a transplant in a few patients.