How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.

A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or is like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to impact your quality of living. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.

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

PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing an beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs, your upvc door doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your upvc doctor might recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower your stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.

If you have a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip one beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should talk to your upvc doctor if you have frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.

The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then expand to push blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart to start the next pumping cycle. But a Pvc doctor starts at a different spot and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel like it skipped the beat. If you have only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time to see how many PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects heart's blood flow - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

If you experience frequent PVCs even if do not have any other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who suffer from them do not have any issues with their health or heart. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

A doctor can often tell if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination 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 after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are extreme, talk with your physician about possible treatments that could help control these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to check for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercise.

A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beats the heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI could be conducted.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. They could increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

A healthy, regular diet and regular exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important to follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Certain people may require an organ transplant.