Five Pvc Doctor Lessons From Professionals
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs with no problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) usually controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that typically begins your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) isn't. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or is fluttering. They may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they could occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health problems. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more evident if you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs, he may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys cells that cause PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In some cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can lead to stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the upper right portion of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lung. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different location, the Purkinje fibers are located in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
If you've had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood- should be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if you don't experience any other indications, you should still get PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These heartbeats that are irregular can point to an issue with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
window doctors can be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they are frequent or intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to examine the heart and observe how it's functioning.
Often, a doctor will be able to determine if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes however, they might only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used if there's any concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and over the prescription decongestants, as well as reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, 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 medications that may be able to control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top 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 with heart problems, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercise.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs doctors should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor will also likely perform an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be conducted to determine other reasons for the increased beats.
The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. They could 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 gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally important. Certain medications can increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require a heart transplant.