How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, Repair My Windows And Doors begins in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can increase their risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to reduce your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you're experiencing many PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you experience symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right-hand side of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then expand to push blood into your lungs and then return to your heart to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs happen they can make the heart feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not treat you. If you've got a number of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
If you've suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. Those include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you have frequent PVCs even if you don't have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur frequently enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who get lots of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also occur during training, even though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their health or heart. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether a person has PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. But sometimes they might not be aware of them until they examine the patient for different reasons, like after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease if there is any concern.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor about possible medications that can control them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or occur rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you suffer from PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercise.
A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are due to physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be done to look for other reasons for the extra beats.
Most people with PVCs do not experience any issues and can live 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 instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout the body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor regarding eating a healthy diet, 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 rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need a heart transplant.