How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur rarely, causing no symptoms, but they can also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of living. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially the case if they are caused 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 beats slower or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase the risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress levels by taking enough rest and exercising.
If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In some cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could lead to stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
repairmywindowsanddoors , electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and then return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different location that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel like it skipped the beat. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge the heart's rate over a 24-hour period. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
If you've had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects how the heart pumps bloodand should take their PVCs seriously and speak with a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if you don't have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats may signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they are frequent or intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. They can also happen with exercising, but most athletes who suffer from them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine patients for a different reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect cardiac disease in the event of any concerns.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding 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 help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk with your physician about possible medication options to treat them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more common in people who have other heart problems. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and may be more frequent during exercising.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs doctors should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are due to physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to get enough rest and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you're taking one of these drugs it is important to follow the doctor's advice regarding eating healthy, exercising 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 incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require an organ transplant.