10 Unexpected Pvc Doctor Tips
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people without causing any issues. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that usually initiates your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) isn't. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can occur rarely without causing any symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to impact your quality of living. Your doctor may prescribe medicine in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can increase their risk.
If you have occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you stay away from certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have many 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 perform this procedure. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In some instances it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could cause a stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different location that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs happen, the heart may feel as if it's beating faster or slower. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time to determine how many PVCs you have.
If you've had previously from a heart attack or cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you have frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions, and over time, if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if someone is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical exam. But sometimes they might not be aware of them until they examine the patient for different reasons, like after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a concern.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress can help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medications that could be able to reduce them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If you experience them frequently, your doctor may want to examine for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. It's not known what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart problems. PVCs can increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercising.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs doctors should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI is possible.
Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can lead a normal life. They could increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood throughout your body.
A healthy, regular diet and a lot of exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to get enough rest and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you're taking one of these drugs it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
window doctor of patients suffering from an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need a heart transplant.