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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and not cause any symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health issues. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially when the PVCs are triggered by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating a beat, or fluttering. You might also feel breathless. the window doctor fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase the risk.
If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can result in stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles expand to push the blood into the lungs. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped the beat. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
People who have had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood must be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you have frequent PVCs even if you do not have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who get them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used when there is a concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all you need. However, if your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that may be able to reduce them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If you have them often and frequently, your doctor might want to check for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercise.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs, a physician is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are a result of physical activity. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.
Most people with PVCs do not experience any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has trouble pumping blood throughout your body.
A healthy, regular diet and regular exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough rest and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is essential that you follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in the need for a heart transplant in certain people.