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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Regular PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs are triggered by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident if you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower your stress levels by getting enough sleep and working out.
If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can result in stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might need to see your doctor when they occur frequently or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. Then, the ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A PVC starts at a different spot in the Purkinje fibres bundle in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel like it is racing or pounding. If you only have one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. However, if you have lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heartbeat over 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
If you've had an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety 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 see an expert in cardiology. pvc doctor that are irregular could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they are frequent or intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor may be able to determine if someone has PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. Sometimes it is possible that they only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease when there is a concerns.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medications that could help reduce the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to check for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) 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 not known what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people who have other heart issues. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercises.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other reasons for the increased beats.
Most people with PVCs have no complications and live a normal life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in some people.