How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people without causing any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers, 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. Instead, the impulse is generated in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to interfere with your daily life. If window doctor occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if the PVCs result from a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart skipping an beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress levels by getting enough sleep and working out.
If you have lots of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is generally 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 your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can cause a stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might be advised to consult your physician when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the top right side of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lung. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place in the Purkinje fibres bundle in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs happen they can make the heart feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist might prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat, for example, a beta blocker.
If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, can weaken your heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to look at the heart and observe how it's working.
A doctor can often tell the presence of PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. However, sometimes they will only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized if there's any concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are troubling or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about treatments that could help control them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If you experience them frequently, your doctor may want to look for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
If you have PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can make it 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 issues. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and could be more frequent during exercise.
A physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are due to physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the increased beats the heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can live the normal life. They may increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood throughout your body.
A healthy, regular diet and a lot of exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is crucial to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in the need for a heart transplant in some patients.