How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle 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 travel from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or Home window repair the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your quality of living. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.

PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of heart disease. A lot of PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and Window Frame Repair cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.

If you have occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to avoid some drinks and foods like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce stress by taking enough rest and exercising.

If you're experiencing a lot of PVCs, he may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but it is important to consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.

Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles expand to pump blood into the lung. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart.

When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel like it is racing or pounding. If you have only one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.

If you've had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which alters the way the heart pumps blood- should take their PVCs seriously and speak with a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

Even if you don't experience any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These extra heartbeats can point to an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time when they are frequent enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They just want to know that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who experience them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.

A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. However, sometimes they will only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect heart disease when there is a concerns.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that may be able to control them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or Home Window Repair medication. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of 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) in the top right part of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. It's unclear what causes these, but they're more frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercises.

A doctor should perform an ECG and 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 determine whether the extra beats are caused by physical activity. To find out if there are other causes for Basement Window Repair the extra beatings the heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI is possible.

Most people with PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to sleep enough and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is essential to follow the advice of your doctor regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication.

Studies of patients with a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need a heart transplant.