How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your standard of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or flutters, and you may feel breathless. the window doctor repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk fluttering could be more noticeable if you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase the risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to avoid certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that cause them. This is done 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 may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could lead to a stroke. This is rare however it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right portion of the heart. These signals travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place in the Purkinje fibres bundle in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you experience only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.
People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps blood- should take their PVCs seriously and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. Those include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat like beta blockers.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur frequently enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They are interested in knowing if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who get lots of them may feel they're about to faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have issues in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and see how it's functioning.
A doctor can often tell whether a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized if there's any concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that could be able to control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
When you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more often during exercise.
A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To determine whether there are any other causes for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. They can increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.
A healthy, regular diet and regular exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also important. Some medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines, it's important to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require an organ transplant.