How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to interfere with your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly when the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which could lead to heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or consume certain beverages or foods. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you're suffering from lots of PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can cause stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you might want to consult your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. Then, the ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you've experienced just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heart rate over 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time to see how many PVCs you have.
People who have had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects how the heart pumps blood- should be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, if they occur often enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who suffer from them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's working.
A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. repairmywindowsanddoors may be used to detect cardiac disease if there is any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk to your doctor about possible medications that can control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than at 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 extra beats. It's not known what causes these, but they're more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercises.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To find out whether there are other reasons 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 an ordinary life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly 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 the body.
A healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medications it is important to follow the doctor's advice about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Some patients may require an organ transplant.