How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that typically initiates your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) doesn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles and 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 like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your quality of living. Your doctor may prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident if you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase the risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress levels by taking enough rest and exercising.
If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs, he may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some instances it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could cause a stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to start 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, located in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs happen they can make the heart appear to be racing or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat like 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 lungs and if they happen often enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They would like to know if fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to examine the heart and observe how it's functioning.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes, they may only be able to detect them when 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 concern.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medications that could be able to manage these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might want to check for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
When you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. PVCs are more frequent among those with heart problems, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs are more frequent as we age and can occur more frequently during exercise.
A doctor should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are due to physical activity. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beatings the heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted.
Most people with PVCs do not have any issues and can live an ordinary life. They can increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also limit caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to sleep enough and reduce stress. Some medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is essential that you follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating and exercising as well as taking your medication.
In window doctors of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some patients may require an organ transplant.