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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. If repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in a different 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 could feel as if the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs are triggered by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart skipping an beat, or fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase their risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a regular occurrence, you may have to avoid certain foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.
If you have many PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys cells that cause PVCs. This is done by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In some instances it may increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel the blood into your lungs and then return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC begins in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's beating faster or slower. If you experience only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time to see the number of PVCs you have.
If you've suffered a heart attack in the past 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 avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
Even if you don't have any other signs however, you should have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These irregular heartbeats could point to problems with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They are interested in knowing if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who experience them have no heart or health issues. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to examine the heart and observe how it's working.
Often, a doctor will be able to identify if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized if there's any concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could be able to control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or occur rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to look for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
When you have PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. They're more common among people with heart problems, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs can increase in frequency with age and might happen more often during exercising.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs, a physician is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other reasons for the extra beats.
Most people with PVCs have no complications and can live the normal life. They may increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop 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 reduce your chances 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 are taking one of these medicines it's crucial to follow the doctor's advice regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require a heart transplant.