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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they can happen often enough to interfere with your daily life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are triggered by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase their risk.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.
If you have many PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. This is done by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can cause a stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right part of the heart. window doctors travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into the lungs, and return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs happen they can make the heart feel as if it's skipping a beat or pounding. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs very seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. Those include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, for example, a beta blocker.
Even if you don't experience any other indications, you should still get PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur often enough, can weaken your heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who suffer from them don't have any problems in their heart or health. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They are able to identify cardiac problems when there is a reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that may be able to reduce the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're frequent in those with other heart issues. PVCs may increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercises.
A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. To find out if there are other causes for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI can be performed.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. They may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, that means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to sleep enough and manage stress. Some medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some people may need an organ transplant.