How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk of heart failure.

The heart's rhythm is controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.

PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart racing one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain 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 experience frequent PVCs, your physician may suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress levels, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.

If you're experiencing a lot of PVCs, he may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but it is important to consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node, located in the top right-hand side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lungs. They return to the window doctor heart's center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different location in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the bottom left of the heart.

When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your Window & door Doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.

People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.

Even if there aren't any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues. They are interested in knowing if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're intense or frequent. People who get lots of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who get them don't have any problems in their heart or health. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized if there's any concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that could be able to reduce these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If they occur frequently, your window doctor might need to examine for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people who have other heart problems. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more often during exercises.

If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs doctors should perform 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 find out if there are other causes for the extra beatings the heart catheterization or an MRI can be performed.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as limit caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.

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