How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically regulates your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your quality of living. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health problems. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure.
window doctor near me can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping an beat, or fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more apparent if you exercise, or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can also increase their risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you're suffering from many PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can cause stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart appear to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
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) that pump blood. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, the heart may appear to be skipping a beat or pounding. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. But if you have a lot of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure the heart's rate over a 24-hour period. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.
Anyone who has suffered previously from a heart attack or cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. These include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, like a beta blocker.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if do not have other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular could signal a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, can weaken your heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform 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, they may only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect heart disease if there is any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are bothersome, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the prescription decongestants, as well as the reduction of stress could aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medications that could be able to reduce these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If you have them often and frequently, your doctor might want to examine for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and could be more frequent during exercises.
A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beatings, a heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.
Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues and can live 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, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is essential to follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating and exercising as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in some individuals.