What Experts In The Field Of Pvc Doctor Want You To Know
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
In window doctor , PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. A lot of PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart-related 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 beating an beat, or fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain drinks and foods like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These heartbeats can be harmless, but you should consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right portion of the heart. These signals descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart and start the next pumping cycle. But a PVC starts in a different place, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat or feel like it skipped a beat. If you experience only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to determine the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.
If you've had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects how the heart pumps blood -and should be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you have frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues 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 just want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel weak. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's working.
Often, a doctor will be able to identify if someone has PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized when there is a concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all you need. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and over-the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about medications that can control them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and could be more frequent during exercises.
A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are a result of physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be performed to find other causes of the extra beats.
The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is essential that you follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had 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. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in some individuals.