How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any issues. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.

The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) isn't. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your windows doctor might treat them with medicine.

For most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if the PVCs are caused by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which could lead to heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart racing one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more noticeable if you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase the risk.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower stress by taking enough rest and working out.

If you've got a lot of PVCs Your pvc doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can cause stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right side of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs, and return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a Pvc Doctor starts in a different location, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.

When PVCs happen they can make the heart appear to be beating faster or slower. If you only have just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. He or she may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects the heart's blood flow - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, such as a beta blocker.

If you have frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They are interested in knowing if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also happen with exercise, though many athletes who get them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's working.

A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes, however, they may not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about possible medications that can control them.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you have them often, your doctor may want to look for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or has a few extra beats. It's not known what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart problems. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercises.

A glass doctor should conduct an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other reasons for the extra beats.

Most people with PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live an ordinary life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.

A healthy and balanced diet and a lot of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to get enough rest and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is essential to follow the advice of your glazing doctor regarding eating a healthy diet exercising, as well as taking your medication.

Studies of patients with an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require a heart transplant.