How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people with no cause for concern. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They may occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they can also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they are very frequent or Window Scratch Repair cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.

For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident if you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase the risk.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.

If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractures PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right-hand side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into the lungs, and then return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot, the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat or feel like it skipped one beat. If you experience only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. The doctor Storefront Window Repair may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.

If you've had previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

If you have frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues. They would like to know if irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly might feel faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who experience them do not have any issues with their health or heart. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's working.

A doctor can often tell whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used when there is a concern of heart disease.

If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk with your physician about possible treatments that could help control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they are frequent, window Scratch Repair your doctor might need to examine for heart problems or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.

If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or has a few extra beats. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and could be more frequent during exercising.

A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beats an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can live the normal life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.

A healthy, regular diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is essential that you follow the advice of your doctor regarding eating a healthy diet, exercising, and taking your medication.

Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in a need for a heart transplant in certain people.