How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people without causing any issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different part of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats are also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of living. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.

PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Regular PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating one beat, or even fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable if you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, may increase the risk of developing PVCs.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.

If you have many PVCs, he may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in a stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you might need to see your doctor when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right-hand side of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart and start the next pumping cycle. A Pvc doctor starts in a different location, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the window doctor near me left side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they make the window doctor heart beat or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you only have a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs the glazing doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.

If you've suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood- should be aware of their PVCs and speak with a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, door and window doctor smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.

Even if you don't experience any other indications however, you should have PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or skipping 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 going to faint. Exercise can cause them, but most athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems in the event of any concern.

If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, speak with your physician about possible medication options to treat them.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You may also undergo an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. It's not clear what causes these, but they're more frequent in those with other heart issues. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and may be more frequent during exercise.

A doctor should conduct an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are a result of physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be done to look for other causes for the extra beats.

Most people with PVCs are not affected and live the normal life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Some medicines may also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these drugs it is important to follow your double glazing doctor near me's recommendations about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a transplant in certain patients.