How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by many people without causing any issues. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. double glazing doctors begins in the ventricles, which causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or is like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to affect your standard of life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or flutters, and you may feel breathless. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain drinks and foods, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen stress by having enough sleep and working out.
If you have many PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys cells that cause PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can result in stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node, located in the upper right-hand side of the heart. These signals descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat or feel like it skipped one beat. If you have only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not treat you. However, if you have large number of PVCs the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heart rate over 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other indications it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, can weaken your heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues. They are interested in knowing if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used when there is a concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling, or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk with your physician about possible medications that can control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle changes. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercises.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs, a physician 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 whether the additional beats are a result of physical exercise. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.
Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough sleep and manage stress. Some medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medications, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Some patients may require an organ transplant.