It's The Myths And Facts Behind Pvc Doctor
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen by the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially when the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to stay clear of certain foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress levels by taking enough rest and working out.
If you have many PVCs, he may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In certain cases it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can cause a stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you might need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals start at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right-hand side of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to push the blood into the lung. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts at a different spot, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, the heart may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you have only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
People who have had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which alters the way the heart pumps blood -and must be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if do not have other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could point to an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who suffer from them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a concern.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all you need. If your symptoms are troubling, or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If window doctors persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medications that could be able to reduce these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may be able to look for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere 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 extra beats. It's not known what causes these, but they're more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercises.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other causes for the increased beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. They may increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.
A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to sleep enough and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is essential that you follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with 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 a heart transplant.