10 Unexpected Pvc Doctor Tips
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are caused by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you have occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you're experiencing a lot of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right-hand side of the heart. These signals travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different place in the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left-hand side of the heart.
When window doctor near me occur and the heart is affected, it may appear to be beating faster or slower. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you have many PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.
Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood -- should be aware of their PVCs and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, such as a beta blocker.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if do not have other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could indicate problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they are frequent or intense. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and observe how it's functioning.
A doctor can often tell if a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for different reasons, like after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect cardiac disease if there is any concern.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that could be able to manage these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
If you suffer from PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. It's not known what causes them, but they're more frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs can increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercises.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are due to physical activity. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI is possible.
Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. They may 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 becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough rest and manage stress. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is essential to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require a heart transplant.