10 Healthy Habits For A Healthy Pvc Doctor
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that usually begins your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers 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 can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they could be frequent enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating an beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If window doctors have lots of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to push the blood into the lung. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different location in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you only have a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the way the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, for example, a beta blocker.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you do not have other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can indicate problems with the structure of your heart or other health conditions, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not experience any problems. They would like to know if irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who experience them often might feel faint. They can also occur during training, even though many athletes who experience 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 use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's working.
Often, a doctor will be able to determine if a person has PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes it is possible that they only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect heart disease when there is a reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and over-the drug decongestants and decreasing stress can aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about possible medications that can control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or occur rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more frequently during exercising.
A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other reasons for the extra beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. They can increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also limit caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is essential that you follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in some individuals.