How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel to lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of living. Your doctor may prescribe medicine if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

In most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen stress by taking enough rest and exercising.

If you're suffering from many PVCs The doctor may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In certain cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to a stroke. This isn't common however it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter a beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you experience symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to start the next cycle of pumping. A pvc doctor near me doctor (try this out) starts in a different place that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped one beat. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure your heart rate over 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.

If you've 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 consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.

Even if you don't have any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These irregular heartbeats could point to problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who suffer from them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which makes use of 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 from a history and physical exam. Sometimes, they may only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to identify cardiac problems in the event of any concern.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk to your doctor about treatments that could help control them.

Treatment

If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.

If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or has a few extra beats. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart issues. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more often during exercises.

A doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are caused by physical exercise. To find out whether there are other reasons for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can live a normal life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout the body.

A healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you take any of these medications, it is important that you follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating and exercising as well as taking your medication.

Studies of patients with an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a transplant in a few people.