What Pvc Doctor Could Be Your Next Big Obsession?
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they could also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of living. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lessen stress by having enough sleep and exercising.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that cause them. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to a stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you might need to see your doctor when they occur frequently or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different location that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs happen they can make the heart appear to be racing or pounding. If you have only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably 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 determine your heart rate over 24 hours. window doctors repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
People who have had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
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 be a sign of an issue 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 with PVCs don't experience any issues. They would like to know if fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. They can also occur with training, even though many athletes who experience them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor is often able to tell whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to identify cardiac problems when there is a concern.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the drug decongestants and decreasing stress can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that may be able to manage them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might be able to look for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercising.
A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other reasons for the increased beats.
Most people with PVCs do not suffer from any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body.
A healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as limit caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is essential to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients with an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require an organ transplant.