How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) isn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of living. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart racing one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase the risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower stress by taking enough rest and working out.
If you have many PVCs The doctor may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can result in stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter the beat. window doctors www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk are usually harmless, but it is important to consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right-hand side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different location, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, the heart may appear to be skipping a beat or pounding. If you experience only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. However, if you have large number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heart rate over a 24-hour period. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.
People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if do not have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or other health conditions, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor can often tell the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason such as 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 finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and decreasing stress can help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about medications that can control them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to examine for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart issues. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and could be more frequent during exercise.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs doctors should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be performed to find other causes for the increased beats.
The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues and live an ordinary life. They could increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.
A healthy, regular diet and regular exercise can help reduce your 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 important. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking one of these medicines it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in a need for a heart transplant in some individuals.