How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your 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 are transmitted to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it's fluttering. They may happen rarely and not cause any symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. 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 feeling of your heart skipping a beat, or fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more apparent if you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase the risk of developing PVCs.

If you experience occasional PVCs your upvc window doctor near me may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.

If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. This is done by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.

The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which 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 begins 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 occur they can make the heart appear to be skipping a beat or pounding. If you have only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not prescribe treatment. But if you have a large number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.

Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood- should be aware of their PVCs and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, such as a beta blocker.

If you have frequent PVCs even if you do not have other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could point to problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time when they are frequent enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

A door doctor is often able to tell whether a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, for instance following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can 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 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 other over the drug decongestants and decreasing stress can aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about treatments that could help control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people who have other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and could be more frequent during exercising.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other reasons for the extra beats.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any complications and can lead an ordinary life. They could increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.

A healthy, regular diet and regular exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also important. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.

In studies of patients with high Pvc doctor burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This could lead to a need for a heart transplant in a few patients.