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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that usually initiates your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of heart disease. A lot of PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart condition like 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 skips a beat or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can increase the risk.
If Repair My Windows And Doors experience occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend avoiding certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress levels, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can result in stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right side of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lungs. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different place, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
If you've suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps blood -- should take their PVCs seriously and speak with a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. Those include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, like beta blockers.
Even if you don't experience any other indications however, you should have PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen often. These heartbeats that are irregular could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur frequently enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs don't have any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and observe how it's working.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to tell whether the patient has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect cardiac disease if there is any concerns.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medication that could be able to manage the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you suffer from PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more often during exercise.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be done to look for other causes of the increased beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. 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 reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to sleep enough and reduce stress. Some medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Certain people may require an organ transplant.