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 the risk of heart failure.

The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that usually initiates your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse starts 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 could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your standard of life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.

PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.

If you have occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and jalousie window repair take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.

If you have many PVCs Your doctor condo window repair may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can lead to stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may be advised to consult your physician if they are frequent or if you experience symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lung. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different location that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you've experienced just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.

People who have had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps bloodand should be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. Those include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

If you have frequent PVCs even if you do not have other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that flutter, Window Restoration Service particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's functioning.

Most of the time, a doctor will be able to tell whether the patient has PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes it is possible that they not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect cardiac disease in the event of any concern.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. However, if your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, Window Doctor talk to your doctor about treatments that could help control them.

Treatment

If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent generally, they don't require treatment. If you are frequently affected, your doctor may want to examine for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercise.

A doctor should conduct an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other causes of the extra beats.

The majority of people with PVCs are not affected and can lead the normal life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout the body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to get enough rest and reduce stress. Some medicines may also increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is essential to follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy, exercising, 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 cardiac myopathy was found. This can result in the need for a transplant in certain people.