How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally begins your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. A lot of PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart racing one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you have lots of PVCs, he may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In certain cases, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to a stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right-hand side of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. window doctor contract to propel the blood into your lungs and then return to your heart and start the next pumping cycle. A PVC begins at a different spot, the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side 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 only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over a 24-hour period. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps bloodand should be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat such as beta blockers.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you do not have other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can point to an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently might feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but most athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning.
Often, a doctor will be able to identify if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They are able to identify cardiac problems when there is a concerns.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about possible medication options to treat the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or occur rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You may also undergo a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people who have other heart issues. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more often during exercising.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other causes of the increased beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout the body.
A healthy, regular diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough rest and manage stress. Some medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is essential to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need a heart transplant.