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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel to lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that usually initiates your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in another area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur rarely, causing no symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to impact your quality of living. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping an beat, or fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase their risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In some instances it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you might need to see your doctor if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different location, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur, the heart may appear to be racing or pounding. If you have only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps blood -and must be aware of their PVCs and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, for example, beta blockers.
Even if there aren't any other signs, you should still get PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues, and over time, when they are frequent enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. However, click through the following article suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent or intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect heart disease in the event of any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak with your physician about possible treatments that could help control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to check for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those with heart problems, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercising.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs doctors is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are due to physical activity. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can lead a normal life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood throughout your body.
A healthy, regular diet and regular exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medications, it's important to follow your doctor's recommendations about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent 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 some people.