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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 regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically regulates the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally begins your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) isn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they can also happen frequently enough to affect your quality of living. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart beating one beat, or even fluttering. You might also feel breathless. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In some instances it may increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you might want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and then return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different place that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart.
When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you experience only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heart rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.
People who have had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps blood - must be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you do not have other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time if they occur often enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues. They would like to know if fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
Often, a doctor will be able to determine if a person has PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes, they may only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used if there's any concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and 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 severe, speak to your doctor about medications that could be able to manage them.
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might need to examine for heart problems or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. It's unclear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people who have other heart conditions. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercises.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical activity. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted.
Most people with PVCs do not experience any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.
A healthy, regular diet and regular exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to get enough rest and manage stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is crucial that you follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some people may need an organ transplant.