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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that typically initiates your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) isn't. Instead, the impulse starts in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to affect your quality of living. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly when the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more common in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase their risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to stay clear of certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs, your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause 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 does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can result in 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 skip or flutter a beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right-hand side of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different place that is separate from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel as if it's beating faster or slower. If you experience only a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not prescribe treatment. If you've got a number of PVCs the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
If you've suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps blood -- should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. Those include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, for example, beta blockers.
Even if you don't have any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems. They would like to know if fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can cause them, but most athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's functioning.
A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for different reasons, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of heart disease.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medications that could help reduce the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you have them often and frequently, your doctor might want to look for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercising.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs, a physician is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other causes of the extra beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and live an ordinary life. They could increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm disorders, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In window doctor near me , this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also limit caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in the need for a transplant in some individuals.