What Is Pvc Doctor And Why Is Everyone Dissing It?
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They can occur rarely, causing no symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if the PVCs are triggered by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to reduce your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that cause them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in a stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node, located in the upper right portion of the heart. These signals move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lung. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different place that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart.
When PVCs happen they can make the heart appear to be beating faster or slower. If you have only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not treat you. But if window doctors have a number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
If you've had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps blood - must be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if you don't experience any other signs, you should still get PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. They can also occur during training, even though many athletes who experience them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes however, they might only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect cardiac disease if there is any concern.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medications that could help reduce the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If you have them often and frequently, your doctor might want to check for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
If you suffer from PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes them, but they're more frequent in those with other heart issues. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercise.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are a result of physical activity. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings, a heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.
Most people with PVCs have no complications and live the normal life. They may increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A regular, healthy diet and regular exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to sleep enough and reduce stress. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in certain people.