How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people without causing any problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that typically initiates your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in another area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. the glass doctor may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. Your doctor might prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase the risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower your stress levels by having enough sleep and exercising.
If you have many PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could lead to a stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you experience symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins at a different spot, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may appear to be skipping a beat or pounding. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. He or she may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood -- should be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if you don't experience any other indications however, you should have PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen often. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who get them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to tell whether someone is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. But sometimes they might only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used when there is a concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that could help control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If you experience them frequently, your doctor may want to check for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You might also get an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or has a few extra beats. It's not clear what causes these, but they're more common in people who have other heart conditions. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercise.
A doctor should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. The doctor will also likely perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be conducted to determine other causes of the increased beats.
Most people with PVCs do not have any issues and live the normal life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also important. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is crucial to follow the advice of your doctor regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some people may need a heart transplant.