How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase the risk of heart disease. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase their risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress levels, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can result in stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lung. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts at a different spot in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat or feel like it skipped a beat. If you only have just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not prescribe treatment. However, if you have number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine the heart's rate over a 24-hour period. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
People who have had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects how the heart pumps blood -- should take their PVCs seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, can weaken your heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. People who experience them regularly might feel faint. www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk can trigger them, but many athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's working.
A doctor will usually be able to determine the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a 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 they might be used if there's any concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could help reduce them.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may be able to look for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. They're more common among people suffering from heart disease, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercises.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beats an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.
Most people with PVCs don't experience any complications and can lead an ordinary life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to get enough rest and reduce stress. Some medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines, it's important to follow the doctor's advice regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some patients may require a heart transplant.