How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that typically begins your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially when the PVCs are caused by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain drinks and foods, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you have many PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can cause stroke. This isn't common however it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right side of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lung. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. window doctors starts at a different spot in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, the heart may feel like it is racing 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. But if you have a large number of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heart rate over 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
If you've had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps blood - should be aware of their PVCs and speak with a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat such as beta blockers.
Even if there aren't any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues. They would like to know if irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who experience them regularly may feel weak. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their health or heart. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine the presence of PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized when there is a concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about medications that can control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or occur rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. They're more common among people with heart problems however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercises.
A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings the heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and live an ordinary life. They can increase your risk for 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 regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require an organ transplant.