How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any issues. However, if they happen frequently, 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 controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or window sash replacement sill arched window repair (describes it) it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.

PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart racing a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, Louvred Window Repair can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.

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

If you're suffering from lots of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can result in stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.

Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right side of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.

People who have suffered a previous heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs very seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe medications to slow heartbeat, for example, a beta blocker.

Even if you don't have any other indications, you should still get PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur often. These extra heartbeats can indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs don't have any issues. They want to know if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs might be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of heart disease.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medications that could be able to manage the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your doctor might want to examine for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.

When you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (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 unclear what causes these, but they're more common in people with other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercises.

If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are caused by physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed.

Most people with PVCs do not experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.

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

Studies of patients suffering from a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require an organ transplant.