How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.

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

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they can happen often enough to impact your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.

PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart-related condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise, or eat or porthole Window repair drink certain foods or beverages. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and Colonial Window Repair cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you stay away from certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.

If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. This procedure is performed by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain cases, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. This isn't common however it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contracts PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might need to see your doctor when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

Normaly, electrical signals 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 contract to pump blood into the lung. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the bottom left of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat or feel like it skipped the beat. If you've experienced just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. However, if you have lot of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heartbeat over 24 hours. The doctor porthole Window Repair may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.

If you've had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects how the heart pumps blood should be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, like a beta blocker.

Even if you don't have any other signs, you should still get PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They would like to know if rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who suffer from them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether someone is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and picture Window repair drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are extreme, talk with your physician about possible medication options to treat the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.

If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. It's unclear what causes them, but they're more common in people who have other heart conditions. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercising.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor 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 caused by physical activity. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings an invasive heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed.

Most people with PVCs have no complications and can lead the normal life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to sleep enough and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is crucial to follow the advice of your doctor regarding eating a healthy diet, exercising, and taking your medication.

In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Some people may need an organ transplant.