How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.

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

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. Instead, the impulse begins 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. They may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to interfere with your daily life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken the 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 beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can 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 avoiding certain drinks and foods, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.

If you have many PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some instances it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause a stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractures PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, fireproof leaded glass window repair colonial window repair - have a peek here - but you might need to see your doctor if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial region, which is 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 begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the bottom left of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs and your doctor might recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.

If you've suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -which affects the way that the heart pumps blood - must be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. Those include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist might also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat like a beta blocker.

If you experience frequent PVCs even if you do not have other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats can indicate problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs might be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who get them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning.

Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether someone is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. Sometimes, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to identify cardiac problems when there is a reason to be concerned.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medications that could help control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If you have them often and frequently, your doctor might want to check for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You might also get an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent as we age and can occur more frequently during exercising.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other causes for the increased beats.

Most people with PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. They could increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. 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 plenty of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough rest and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important that you follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet exercising, as well as taking your medication.

Studies of patients suffering from an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to a need for a heart transplant in a few people.