7 Essential Tips For Making The Maximum Use Of Your Pvc Doctor
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart 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 are transmitted to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or is like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to impact your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health issues. In glass doctor , repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart disease like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating one beat, or even fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can cause stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to consult your physician in case you experience 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 part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different location that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped one beat. If you only have a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. However, if you have lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge your heart rate over 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
If you've had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood -- should take their PVCs seriously and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you have frequent PVCs even if do not have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs don't have any issues. They are interested in knowing if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they are frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and see how it's functioning.
A doctor can often tell whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes, they may only notice them while examining the patient for different reasons, like after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to identify cardiac problems if there is any concerns.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that could help control them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also have a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and might occur 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. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are a result of physical activity. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beats the heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible.
Most people with PVCs do not have any issues and live a normal life. They could increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can result in the need for a transplant in some individuals.