How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to affect your quality of living. Your doctor might prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially when the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. People with chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.

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

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter a beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you experience symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right side of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lung. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time to see how many PVCs you have.

Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps blood -and must be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

Even if you don't experience any other indications however, you should have PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could point to problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not experience any problems. They just want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel weak. They can also happen with exercising, but most athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to look at the heart and see how it's functioning.

A doctor will usually be able to determine the presence of PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized if there's any concern of heart disease.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are troubling or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk 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 or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or Fireproof basement window repair repair (okerclub.ru) medication. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and could be more frequent during exercise.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To determine if there are other causes for the extra beatings, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and live a normal life. They may 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 gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.

A healthy and balanced diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to sleep enough and manage stress. Some medicines may also increase your risk for PVCs. If you're taking one of these drugs, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.

In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in certain individuals.