How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and may be experienced by many people without causing any problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.

A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically regulates the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that usually begins your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They can occur rarely without causing any symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to affect your standard of living. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.

PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly when the PVCs result from 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 it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident if you exercise, or consume certain beverages or transom window Repair foods. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower your stress by having enough sleep and working out.

If you have many PVCs Your doctor might recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can lead to stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.

Signs and modern window repair symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A PVC starts at a different spot, the Purkinje fibers are located in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heart rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.

People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs very seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

Even if there aren't any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur frequently enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any problems. They are interested in knowing if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and Clerestory Window Repair intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who experience them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

A doctor may be able to identify if a person is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes, however, they may 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 help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used when there is a concern of heart disease.

If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all you need. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort, or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk to your doctor about medications that can control them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your doctor might want to look for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercises.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are due to physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI can be performed.

Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. They may increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.

A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Certain medications can increase your risk of getting PVCs. So if you take one of these drugs it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

Studies of patients who had a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in some individuals.