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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs with no problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that usually begins your heartbeat at a point called 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 an untimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur rarely, causing no symptoms, but they could also happen frequently enough to affect your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. Frequent PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart-related condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen stress by taking enough rest and exercising.
If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs The doctor may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can lead to stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals typically begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the upper right portion of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs and return to the heart 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 lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you only have just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs and your doctor might recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.
If you've had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps bloodand should take their PVCs seriously and speak with a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat like a beta blocker.
Even if you don't have any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of an issue 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. Most people with PVCs do not have any problems. They want to know if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who suffer from them do not have any issues with their health or heart. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if a person is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes however, they might only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to identify cardiac problems if there is any concern.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak with your physician about possible medication options to treat them.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. the window doctor what causes them, but they're more frequent in those with other heart conditions. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more often during exercise.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other reasons for the additional beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can live an ordinary life. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from 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.
A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and limit caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally important. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is essential to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This can result in a need for a heart transplant in certain people.