The Little-Known Benefits Of Pvc Doctor
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse which normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are 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 cause no symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition like 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 racing an beat, or fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can increase the risk.
If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you have frequent PVCs, your physician may suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress levels by taking enough rest and exercising.
If you have many 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 carry out 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 some cases it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can lead to stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node, which is in the top right portion of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different location that is the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left side of the heart.
When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is racing or pounding. If you have only just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood -and must be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if you don't have any other signs however, you should have PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues. They would like to know if rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. People who get lots of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's functioning.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if a person is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes door and window doctor is possible that they not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used in the event of any suspicion of heart disease.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also reduce your episodes of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about possible medication options to treat them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may be able to look for heart conditions or recommend 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 triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper 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 not clear what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercising.
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 see whether the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other causes for the additional beats.
Most people with PVCs don't experience any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Some medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking one of these medicines it's crucial to follow the doctor's advice about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some people may need a heart transplant.