How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) isn't. Instead, the impulse is generated in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and not cause any symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart disease like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can increase their risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you're suffering from lots of PVCs, he may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't 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 result in stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you might be advised to consult your physician when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs and return to the heart to start the next pumping cycle. A PVC begins in a different place that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is beating faster or slower. If you only have one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
If window doctors near me Repair My Windows And Doors 've had an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat such as a beta blocker.
Even if you don't have any other indications it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also occur with training, even though many athletes who get them don't have issues in their heart or health. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to tell whether someone has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. 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 monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease if there is any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that could be able to manage the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle changes. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can make it 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 issues. PVCs are more frequent as we age and can occur more frequently during exercise.
A physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are caused by physical activity. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible.
Most people with PVCs do not experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough sleep and manage stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow the doctor's advice about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Certain people may require a heart transplant.