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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to impact your quality of living. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially when the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase the risk.
If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress by taking enough rest and working out.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can lead to stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, but you should consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs and then return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. But a PVC begins at a different spot, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur they can make the heart appear to be skipping a beat or pounding. If you have only just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. If you've got a number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure the heart's rate over 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.
If you've had an earlier heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the heart's blood flow - must take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats may signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur often enough, can weaken your heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to know 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. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health problems. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if the patient has PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. However, sometimes they will only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized if there's any concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, talk to your physician about the medications that could be able to manage these symptoms.
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might need to examine for heart problems or suggest lifestyle changes. You might also get an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. It's not known what causes these, but they're more common in people who have other heart issues. PVCs may increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercising.
A doctor should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other causes for the additional beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. They could increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to sleep enough and reduce stress. Some medicines may also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines it is important to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with 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. Some people may need an organ transplant.