How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically regulates your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs however, could weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if the PVCs result from conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can also increase the risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you stay away from certain drinks and foods, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter one beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you might be advised to consult your physician when they occur frequently or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to push the blood into the lung. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different location, the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat or feel like it skipped one beat. If you only have one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. But if you have a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine the heart's rate over a 24-hour period. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
If you've had previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. window doctor can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you have frequent PVCs even if do not have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They are interested in knowing if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who experience them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor may be able to tell whether the patient has PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect heart disease if there is any concerns.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about possible medications that can control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to check for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes these, but they're more common in people with other heart conditions. PVCs can increase in frequency with age and might happen more often during exercises.
A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are a result of physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other causes of the additional beats.
Most people with PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. They could increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous 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 a lot of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also important. Some medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. So if you take one of these drugs it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in some patients.