5 Pvc Doctor Lessons From Professionals
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people without causing any issues. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed 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 can occur infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which could lead to heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident if you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lessen your stress by having enough sleep and exercising.
If you're suffering from lots of PVCs The doctor may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some instances it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can cause stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip one beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you might need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you experience symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A PVC starts at a different spot in the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left side of the heart.
When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you experience only one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
People who have had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood -- should take their PVCs seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat, like beta blockers.
Even if there aren't any other indications however, you should have PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also occur with training, even though many athletes who suffer from them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have 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 determine how it's working.
Often, a doctor will be able to identify if a person has PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason, like following an accident or a surgery. the window doctor monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used in the event of any suspicion of heart disease.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that may be able to manage these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent generally, they don't require treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs are more frequent as we age and can occur more often during exercise.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs doctors should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be done to look for other causes of the additional beats.
Most people with PVCs do not experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. They may increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
A healthy, regular diet and regular exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also crucial. Certain medications can increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require an organ transplant.