What Experts From The Field Want You To Learn
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) usually controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) isn't. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they could occur frequently enough to affect your standard of living. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart racing a beat, or fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise, or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can result in stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you may be advised to consult your physician in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node located in the top right side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lung. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts at a different spot, the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel as if it's skipping a beat or pounding. If you've experienced just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.
If you've had a previous heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat such as beta blockers.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can indicate problems with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. They can also occur during training, even though many athletes who get them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors to 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 a person has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. However, sometimes they will not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect cardiac disease if there is any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medication that may be able to reduce these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or are not frequent generally, they don't require treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to check for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. PVCs are more prevalent among people who suffer from heart issues however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and could be more frequent during exercising.
A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other reasons for the increased beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can live the normal life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.
the window doctor and a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough rest and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is essential to follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Certain people may require an organ transplant.