How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel to ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to interfere with your daily life. If click here to find out more happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase the risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower stress by getting enough sleep and working out.
If you're suffering from lots of PVCs, he may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can cause stroke. It is not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you have only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not be able to treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time to see how many PVCs you have.
If you've had an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat such as a beta blocker.
Even if you don't experience any other indications however, you should have PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur often. These extra heartbeats can indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They just want to know that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently might feel faint. They can also happen with exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor may be able to tell whether a person is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical exam. However, sometimes they will only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They are able to detect heart disease when there is a concerns.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. However, if your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, speak to your physician about the medications that could help manage these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your doctor might want to check for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You may also undergo an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercise.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs doctors should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are caused by physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the increased beats the heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed.
Most people with PVCs are not affected and can live an ordinary life. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems, 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.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Some medicines may also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in certain individuals.